noun

1. a turning or seeking for aid, safety, etc. to have recourse to the law
2. that to which one turns seeking aid, safety, etc. one's last recourse
3. Commerce, Law the right to demand payment from the maker or endorser of a negotiable instrument, as a bill of exchange: usually in without recourse, without obligation to pay (added by the endorser to a bill of exchange to escape possible liability)

Etymology: ME recours < OFr < L recursus, a running back: see re- & course