1590s, "trial, attempt, endeavor," also "short, discursive literary composition" (first attested in writings of Francis Bacon, probably in imitation of Montaigne), from Middle French essai "trial, attempt, essay" (in Old French from 12c.), from Late Latin exagium "a weighing, a weight," from Latin exigere "drive out; require, exact; examine, try, test," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + agere (see act, n.) apparently meaning here "to weigh." The suggestion is of unpolished writing. Compare assay, also examine.

"to put to proof, test the mettle of," late 15c., from Middle French essaier, from essai "trial, attempt" (see essay, n.). This sense has mostly gone with the divergent spelling assay. Meaning "to attempt" is from 1640s. Related: Essayed; essaying.