Baretti: A dictionary of the English and Italian languages
Difésa, s. f.
1. defence, protection, countenance, prop, support. A — di se, in his own defence. Far —, to resist, withstand. Chi può far — contra le vostre bellezze? who can resist your charms? 2. (pl.) fortifications, defences, trenches; 3. (leg. t.) reply or defence; 4. prohibition.
Florio: a worlde of wordes, or most copious, dictionarie in Italian and English