n. A trial heat, especially in rowing, allowing competitors who have already lost a heat another chance to qualify for the semifinals. [French repêchage, rescuing, repechage, from repêcher, to fish up again, rescue : re-, again (from Old French; see RE-) + pêcher, to fish for (from Old French pescher, from Vulgar Latin *piscāre, from Latin piscārī; see PISCATORIAL).] |
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