I.a running out or forth (rare; not in Cic.; cf. excursio).
I. Lit.: “excursusque breves tentant (apes),” excursions, Verg. G. 4, 194: “avium,” Sol. 20, 3; cf. “the outflow of water,” Plin. Ep. 4, 30, 8.—
2. In partic., in milit. lang. (like excursio, I. B.), a sally, charge, onset, attack; an inroad, invasion: excursus militum, * Caes. B. C. 3, 92, 2: “rari,” Tac. G. 30: “subiti,” id. Agr. 20: navigiorum, Auct. B. Alex. 19, 2.—
B. Transf., of localities, a projecting, projection: “promontorium vasto excursu,” Plin. 6, 2, 2, § 6: “ad Pyrenaei montis excursum,” id. 4, 17, 31, § 105.—
II. Trop., a digression in speaking: “hae (egressiones) per totam causam varios habent excursus, ut laus hominum locorumque, etc.,” Quint. 4, 3, 12; “opp. opus ipsum,” Plin. Ep. 5, 6, 43.
