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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Incursion


INCUR'SION, noun [Latin incursio, from incurro. See Incur.]

1. Literally, a running into; hence, an entering into a territory with hostile intention; an inroad; applied to the expeditions of small parties or detachments of an enemy's army, entering a territory for attack, plunder or destruction of a post or magazine. Hence it differs from invasion, which is the hostile entrance of any army for conquest. During the revolution, the British troops made an incursion to Danbury, and destroyed the magazines. In opposing this incursion Gen. Wooster was killed.

2. Attack; occurrence; as sins of daily incursion [Unusual.]