American Dictionary of the English Language

REFU'SAL, noun s as z.

1. The act of refusing; denial of any thing demanded, solicited or offered for acceptance. The first refusal is not always proof that the request will not be ultimately granted.

2. The right of taking in preference to others; the choice of taking or refusing; option; pre-emption. We say, a man has the refusal of a farm or a horse, or the refusal of an employment.