infangthief

noun

in·​fang·​thief

ˈinfəŋˌthēf

: a medieval franchise of exercising jurisdiction over a thief caught within the limits to which the franchise was attached : the right of the lord of a manor to judge a thief taken within the seigniory of such lord

—distinguished from outfangthief

Word History

Etymology

Middle English infangenthef, infangthef, from Old English infangenethēof, infangenthēof, from in, inn in + fangen (past participle of fōn to seize, capture) + thēof thief

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