What does "recourse" mean?

Recourse: Recurrence in difficulty, perplexity, need, or the like; access or application for aid; resort. Thus died this great peer, in a time of great recourse unto him and dependence upon him. Sir H. Wotton. Our last recourse is therefore to our art. Dryden.

Additional senses

  1. 2.Access; admittance. [Obs.] Give me recourse to him. Shak. Without recourse (Commerce), words sometimes added to the indorsement of a negotiable instrument to protect the indorser from liability to the indorsee and subsequent holders. It is a restricted indorsement.
  2. 3.To return; to recur. [Obs.] The flame departing and recoursing. Foxe.
  3. 4.To have recourse; to resort. [Obs.] Bp. Hacket.

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