excursionn.
/ɛkˈskəːʃən/ a. The action of running out; escape from confinement; ‘progression beyond fixed limits’ (Johnson); running to extremes; an instance thereof.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > [noun] > of something confined
ventinga1382
eventingc1450
vent1558
excursion1579
escape1874
1579 T. Twyne tr. Petrarch Phisicke against Fortune ii. Ep. Ded. 153 b What roaring of flooddes, what excursion of riuers.
1655 H. L'Estrange Reign King Charles 4 Nor is it any excursion beyond the precincts of verity to say, that [etc.].
1729 G. Shelvocke, Jr. tr. K. Siemienowicz Great Art Artillery iv. 266 These round boards—prevent the Excursion of the least Atom of the Moving Power..till the Projectile is departed.
1732 J. Ray Dissol. World (ed. 4) i. iii. 44 Stop and inhibit their [the winds'] excursions.
1733 J. Arbuthnot Ess. Effects Air Human Bodies iv. 87 Those great Excursions of the Seasons into the Extremes of Cold and Heat.
b. transferred. The fact or state of ‘running out’ or projecting in any direction (rare). Hence formerly †concrete: Something that runs out or projects; an extension, projecting addition (of a building); an offshoot, branch, projection (of land, mountains, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > [noun]
projecture1563
jutting1565
project1596
juttying1611
prominence1611
excursiona1626
extancy1644
outjetty1650
projection1664
projecting1726
jetting1754
saliency1834
salience1849
protrusion1853
prominency1871
pout1880–4
out-thrust1955
the world > the earth > land > landscape > [noun] > landform > projecting
nook?a1425
point?c1475
snoutc1540
excursiona1626
spur1851
salient1864
odd1869
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > [noun] > a projecting part
hornc1275
outshooting1310
nosec1400
startc1400
spout1412
snouta1425
outbearingc1425
outstanding?c1425
relish1428
jeta1500
rising1525
shoulder1545
jutting1565
outshootc1565
prominence1578
forecast1580
projection1592
sprout1598
eye1600
shooting forth1601
lip1608
juttying1611
prominent?1611
eminence1615
butting1625
excursiona1626
elbow1626
protrusion1646
jettinga1652
outjetting1652
prominency1654
eminency1668
nouch1688
issuanta1690
out-butting1730
outjet1730
out-jutting1730
flange1735
nosing1773
process1775
jut1787
projecture1803
nozzle1804
saliency1831
ajutment1834
salience1837
out-thrust1842
emphasis1885
cleat1887
outjut1893
pseudopodiuma1902
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > [noun] > projecting subdivision
outshot1378
wing1523
limb1577
jambc1600
excursiona1626
return1625
flanker1631
pavilionc1676
1652 P. Heylyn Cosmographie i. sig. E Of this large Mountain most of the Hils..are but the excursions.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. vi. 354 Countrey-Churches..wherein such excursions of building as present themselves beyond the old fabrick..were since erected.
a1682 Sir T. Browne Certain Misc. Tracts (1683) xii. 191 An excursion of Land shooting out directly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > aspects of emotion > manifestation of emotion > [noun] > outward exhibition
show1569
ejection1650
effusion1659
excursion1662
sally1676
demonstrativeness1841
gushing1852
transpirationa1854
demonstration1856
gushingness1859
effusiveness1877
gushiness1937
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > wit, wittiness > [noun] > outburst of wit
escapea1616
scintillationa1630
excursion1662
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [noun] > capriciousness > a caprice or whim
fantasya1450
wantonness1531
humour1533
worm?a1534
will1542
toy?1545
whey-worm1548
wild worm1548
freak1563
crotchet1573
fancy1579
whim-wham1580
whirligig1589
caper1592
megrim1593
spleen1594
kicksey-winsey1599
fegary1600
humorousness1604
curiosity1605
conundrum1607
whimsy1607
windmill1612
buzza1616
capriccioa1616
quirka1616
flama1625
maggota1625
fantasticality1631
capruch1634
gimcrack1639
whimseycado1654
caprich1656
excursion1662
frisk1665
caprice1673
fita1680
grub1681
fantasque1697
whim1697
frolic1711
flight1717
whigmaleery1730
vagary1753
maddock1787
kink1803
fizgig1824
fad1834
whimmery1837
fantod1839
brain crack1853
whimsy-whamsy1871
tic1896
tick1900
1662 H. More Gen. Coll. Philos. Writings (1712) Pref. Gen. 22 Which was no inconsiderate excursion of a juvenile fervour in him, but a permanent faithfulness..of Spirit.
1680 Bp. G. Burnet Some Passages Life Rochester (1692) 124 I have not enlarged on all the Excursions of his wit.
1701 J. Swift Disc. Contests Nobles & Commons ii. 19 Alcibiades having been formerly noted for the like Frolicks..and Excursions, was immediatly accused of this.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 34. ¶4 I think your Raillery has made too great an Excursion, in attacking several Persons of the Inns of Court.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 16 This indeed was..an Excursion of his Spirits.
1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 228 His wild excursions, window-breaking feats..are made their favourite themes. View more context for this quotation
1793 E. Burke Observ. Conduct Minority in Two Lett. Conduct Domestick Parties (1797) 11 His friends saw no security..after this excursion of his, but in the reunion of the party.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > attack > raid > [noun]
roadeOE
skeck1297
chevacheec1380
forayc1400
reisea1450
raid1455
bodrag1537
skeg1542
reid1544
inroad1548
outroad1560
excursion1577
excurse1587
bodraging1590
cavalcade1591
chevachance1592
chivancy1616
algaradea1649
course1651
outrakea1765
commando1791
razzia1821
muru1836
chappow1860
night raid1872
1577 R. Holinshed Hist. Eng. 62/2 in Chron. I Trenches that you haue made for your owne defence, to keepe off their excursions.
1610 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes (ed. 2) 1230 The Turks..were determined yet to make a great excursion for the spoyling of the countrey.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 637 Placing Forts and Guards along the River, to..repress any Excursions from Fort Andrew.
1701 London Gaz. No. 3756/13 The Germans make Excursions beyond the Adda..to fetch in Forage.
4.
a. A journey, expedition, or ramble from one's home, or from any place with the intention of returning to it.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [noun] > excursion
out-coursea1603
sally1657
excursion1699
sashay1900
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > outing or excursion > [noun]
airing1607
tour1656
excursion1699
scheme1758
out1762
visit1800
outing1821
day out1822
day trip1838
spin1856
ta-ta1886
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. ii. ii. 42 Many little Excursions that I made..in these Parts.
1743 G. Berkeley Let. 29 Oct. in Wks. (1871) IV. 289 My health..suffers me to make no excursions farther than a mile or two.
a1788 N. Cotton Fire-side iv Giving her vain excursions o'er, The disappointed bird [Noah's dove] once more Explor'd the sacred bark.
1815 J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 159 The longest aeronautic excursion ever taken, was by Blanchard.
1823 J. D. Hunter Mem. Captivity 124 I started..on a hunting and trading excursion.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. vii. 47 I made a long excursion up the glacier.
b. figurative.
ΚΠ
1661 J. Glanvill Vanity of Dogmatizing xii. 111 The excursions of our roving phancies (which cannot be kept to a close attendance).
1710 J. Swift Tale of Tub (ed. 5) Apol. sig. a1v It is the frequent Error of those Men..to make Excursions beyond their Talent and their Office.
1764 T. Reid Inq. Human Mind vii. 211 Many authors have made excursions into this vast territory.
1888 J. Bryce Amer. Commonw. I. ii. 21 The only excursion into the historical domain which I shall have to ask the reader to make.
c. transferred in Physics, etc.: One of the individual movements executed by any body or particle in oscillating or alternating motion; the distance traversed in such a movement.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > mechanics > types of motion > [noun] > vibration or oscillation > single motion
vibration1666
oscillation1706
excursion1800
1800 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 90 136 In the middle of the chord, the excursions on each side the axis are always equal.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 171 The particles themselves perform very small excursions, merely vibrating up and down.
1879 G. B. Prescott Speaking Telephone (new ed.) 16 The excursions of the plunger rod vary with the amplitude of the several vibrations made by the diaphragm to which it is attached.
5. spec. A journey or ‘trip’ undertaken for the sake of pleasure or health. In recent use often: a pleasure-trip taken by a number of persons; occasionally short for excursion-party or excursion train.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [noun] > excursion > for pleasure
jaunt1678
trip1749
excursion1779
run1780
pleasure trip1829
pleasuring1869
booze cruise1994
1779 W. Cowper Let. July (1979) I. 296 It was an Excursion of Pleasure to go to see Ramsgate.
1832 G. Downes Lett. from Continental Countries I. 297 We had yesterday a delightful excursion on the lake.
1860 E. C. Gaskell Let. ?26 May (1966) 621 Fare by excursion to London, is 12–6, second class... Now second class excursion to London wd not be agreeable I think.
1911 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 2 Apr. 14/6 (Railway Advt.) Low excursion rates to eastern points.
1920 J. Galsworthy Foundations ii I tuk 'ee therr [sc. to Margate] by excursion when yu was six months.
1966 J. Betjeman High & Low 29 By tramway excursion..In search of diversion The millworkers come.
6. Deviation from a definite path or course.† b. A deviation from custom, rule, or propriety. Cf. 2. Obsolete.† c. A deviation from the direct course in argument or discourse; ‘ramble from a subject’ (Johnson); a digression. Obsolete.
a. in physical sense. Now only Astronomy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > change of direction of movement > [noun] > (a) deviation from straight course
blenching1398
turna1400
misdrawing?a1425
swerving1545
digression1552
sklenting1568
excursion1603
diverting1611
diversion1626
deflection1646
deflexure1656
prevarication1672
deviation1675
evagation1692
departurea1694
swerve1736
twist1798
out-throw1855
throw1858
turnaway1922
1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1307 The defect of the Moone and her occultation, be as it were the excursions, deviations out of course.
1727 J. Swift Desire & Possession in Wks. (1735) II. 370 He strove to pick up all he found, And by Excursions lost his Ground.
1732 J. Ray Dissol. World (ed. 4) iii. v. 374 The Excursions of these last [the Comets] do argue it more than possible that..the Sun..may quite lose his light.
1833 J. F. W. Herschel Astronomy ix. 288 The excursions of the earth on either side of the ellipse, are so very small as to be hardly appreciable.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > a standard of conduct > [noun] > deviation from normal standards of behaviour > instance of
singularity1570
excursion1615
eccentricity1657
exorbitanta1714
angularity1833
unconventionality1854
quiddities1941
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 299 Monsters Aristotle calleth Excursions and Digressions of Nature.
a1656 Bp. J. Hall Shaking of Olive-tree (1660) i. 11 Finding that..somewhat out of my way, not without a secret blame of my self for so much excursion, I fairly gave up that task.
1661 O. Felltham Resolves (rev. ed.) 42 A Watch, to observe thy fails, and thy excursions.
a1711 T. Ken Hymnotheo in Wks. (1721) III. 109 On ev'ry Sense he kept strict jealous Eyes, Ready the least Excursion to chastise.
1769 J. Reynolds Disc. Royal Acad. (1884) ii. 18 A Student..is always apt..to mistake the most trifling excursions for discoveries of moment.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > copiousness > [noun] > discursiveness or digression > a digression
sojournc1330
digressionc1374
adigression1483
start1534
interposition1553
vagary1572
excursion1574
excourse1579
parecbasis1584
parenthesis1594
transversal1612
evagation1618
passage1625
far-about1639
excurrency1650
deviation1665
parathesis1668
alieniloquy1727
side-slip1843
excursus1845
1574 J. Whitgift Def. Aunswere to Admon. ii. 92 It is an argument that you lacke good matter, when you make such excursions from the purpose.
1670 R. Baxter Cure Church-div. 259 Pardon this long excursion on this subject.
1684 Earl of Roscommon Ess. Translated Verse 14 Excursions are inexpiably Bad, For 'tis much safer to leave out, than Add.
1721 W. Gibson Farriers Dispensatory iii. xvii. 167 We shall take the Liberty of a short Excursion, to put this Matter yet into a better Light.
1823 C. Lamb Imperfect Sympathies in Elia 137 You cannot make excursions with him..for he sets you right [in conversation].
Compounds
attributive (sense 5), as in excursion-train n. a train intended to convey persons making a pleasure excursion, usually at reduced fares; also excursion-agent, excursion-fare, excursion-party, excursion-ticket.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > rail travel > rolling stock > [noun] > train > passenger train > types of
parliamentary train1845
excursion-train1849
parliamentary1854
parly1855
corridor train1892
trip-train1894
railmotor1903
railbus1932
mystery train1933
pool passenger train1934
Skybus1963
pay-train1968
1849 W. M. Thackeray in Scribner's Mag. 1 688/2 I should like to come..by the Excursion train.
1866 R. M. Ballantyne Shifting Winds xxiv. 275 It chanced to be an excursion day, and several..were besieging the ticket-windows.
1870 C. Dickens Edwin Drood ii. 4 Mr. Tope, Chief Verger and Showman, and accustomed to be high with excursion parties, declines..to perceive that any suggestion has been tendered to him.
1878 F. S. Williams Midland Railway (ed. 4) 626 The exceptional colours [tickets] are for excursion trains.
Derivatives
exˈcursion v. (intransitive) to make or go on an excursion.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] > make short journey or excursion, esp. for pleasure
to go abroadc1400
to make an errandc1400
to look out1551
jaunt1647
out1653
trip1664
to make or take a step1670
to step up1758
run1759
excursion1792
excursionize1866
tripper1959
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > outing or excursion > make outing or excursion [verb (intransitive)]
junket1607
out1653
trip1664
excursion1792
excursionize1866
tripper1959
1792 F. Burney Diary Feb. in Jrnls. & Lett. (1972) I. 119 You have been excursioning, & travelling, all the World o'er, since I saw you last.
1825 C. Lamb Let. 6 Apr. (1935) II. 467 Yesterday I excursioned 20 miles.
1885 Daily News 6 Oct. 5 The members of the Church Congress are not much given to excursioning.
exˈcursional adj. of or pertaining to an excursion.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [adjective] > of the nature of excursion > for pleasure
excursionary1769
excursional1848
1848 C. Dickens Let. 22 July (1981) V. 374 Pray let me divide the little excursional excesses of the journey, among the gentlemen.
exˈcursionary adj. of the nature of an excursion; of a person, going on an excursion.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [adjective] > of the nature of excursion > for pleasure
excursionary1769
excursional1848
1769 Garrick's Vagary 53 I conclude..my excursionary Trip from London to Stratford.
1858 T. M. Reid in Chambers's Jrnl. 9 77 Was it..the excursionary belles from Saratoga..who came to visit us?
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > traveller > [noun] > on pleasure trip
excursioner1786
trippist1792
tripper1813
excursionist1829
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > outing or excursion > [noun] > person
excursioner1786
trippist1792
tripper1813
excursionist1829
1786 F. Burney Diary 14 Aug. (1842) III. 111 The Royal excursioners did not return till between six and seven o'clock.
exˈcursionism n. the custom or practice of making or organizing excursions.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [noun] > travelling for pleasure > go on a short trip > custom of
excursionism1886
1886 Goldw. Smith in Macmillan's Mag. Oct. 406 Excursionism, which began with the Exhibition of 1851, has now assumed immense proportions.
Draft additions 1993
A rapid, usually uncontrolled, increase in the power generated by a nuclear reactor.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > atomic nucleus > nuclear fission > nuclear fuel > [noun] > rapid increase in power
excursion1954
1954 Nucleonics July 45/1 To quench such reactivity excursion before the fuel plates melt, steam bubbles must appear within a few hundredths of a second.
1965 R. G. Kazmann Mod. Hydrol. iv. 102 It may also become completely unstable, like the ‘excursion’ of a runaway nuclear reactor.
1979 Nature 26 July 270/2 A large energy release over a short time is called a nuclear excursion and cannot occur in normal types of power-generating thermal reactors.
1986 Financial Times 24 Sept. 3/6 At Chernobyl, a ‘super-prompt critical excursion’ occurred in a 1,000 MW power-producing reactor, the experts conclude.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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