detinue

noun

det·​i·​nue ˈde-tᵊn-ˌ(y)ü 

1

: a common-law action for the recovery of a personal chattel wrongfully detained or of its value

2

: detention of something due

especially : the unlawful detention of a personal chattel from another

Examples of detinue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Christopher Akpala, owner of the Uac Food Mart in the 900 block of Bennett Place in Harlem Park, filed the detinue — a legal claim to recover wrongfully seized property — in January, according to court records. —Kevin Rector, baltimoresun.com, 15 Mar. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English detenewe, from Anglo-French detenue detention, from feminine of detenu, past participle of detenir to detain

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

detinue

noun

det·​i·​nue ˈdet-ᵊn-ˌü, -ˌyü 

: a common-law action for the recovery of personal property belonging to the plaintiff that is wrongfully detained by the defendant compare trover

Etymology

Anglo-French detenue, from feminine past participle of detenir to detain see detainer