/rep'euh shahzh"/ , n.
(in cycling and rowing) a last-chance qualifying heat in which the runners-up in earlier heats race each other, with the winner advancing to the finals.
[ 1925-30; repêchage second chance, equiv. to repêch ( er ) to fish up again ( re- RE + pêcher to fish; MF, OF pescher piscare, L piscari, deriv. of piscis FISH) + -age -AGE ]