Lewis & Short

excursĭo, ōnis, f. [excurro], a running out or forth.

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: status (oratoris) erectus et celsus: excursio moderata eaque rara, a stepping forwards, Cic. Or. 18, 59; so, nec vultu nec manu nec excursionibus nimius, Quint. 1, 11, 3: an intentione rei familiaris obeundae crebris excursionibus avocaris? excursions, Plin. Ep. 1, 3, 2: longinquae aut breves, Dig. 33, 1, 13 fin.
    2. B. In partic., milit. t. t., a sally, onset, attack; an excursion, inroad, invasion: crebras ex oppido excursiones faciebant, Caes. B. G. 2, 30, 1: copiae, quibus fines suos ab excursionibus hostium et latrociniis tueretur, Cic. Deiot. 8, 22: equitatus, id. de Imp. Pomp. 6, 16: via excursionibus barbarorum infesta, id. Prov. Cons. 2, 4; cf.: oram maris infestam regiae naves excursionibus crebris faciebant, Liv. 37, 14, 3; 30, 11, 6; 30, 8, 4; 37, 38, 9 al.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. In gen.: relinquendae erunt vacuae tabellae, in quibus libera adiciendo sit excursio. free room or play for insertions, Quint. 10, 3, 32: ne qua ex ea narratione fiat excursio, digression, id. 4, 2, 103.
    2. B. In partic. (acc. to I. B.), outset, commencement of a speech: sed haec fuerit nobis, tamquam levis armaturae, prima orationis excursio, Cic. Div. 2, 10, 26: prooemium, proxima huic narratio: propositio post hanc, vel ut quibusdam placuit, excursio, Quint. 2, 13, 1.