detinue

American  

[det-n-oo, -yoo] / ˈdɛt nˌu, -ˈju /

noun

Law.

1. an old commonlaw form of action to recover possession of personal property wrongfully detained.

---

detinue British  

/ ˈdɛtɪˌnjuː /

noun

1. law an action brought by a plaintiff to recover goods wrongfully detained

---

Etymology

Origin of detinue

1425–75; late Middle English detenu < Anglo-French detenue, detinue detention, originally feminine past participle of detenir to detain

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

detinue

In this and the earlier instances of loss by theft, the action was detinue, counting, we may presume, simply on a delivery and wrongful detainer.

From The Common Law by Holmes, Oliver Wendell

Debt, exclusive of interest, not exceeding $100; fines, damages, etc., not exceeding $20; have jurisdiction of certain cases of unlawful entry and detainer, detinue, and search; may allow bail in certain cases.

From Civil Government of Virginia by Fox, William Fayette

Of personal actions, the most common are the following—Debt, covenant, detinue, trespass, trespass on the case, replevin.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 58, No. 359, September 1845 by Various

The declaration in detinue per inventionem was called "un newfound Haliday" in Y.B.

From The Common Law by Holmes, Oliver Wendell

The action of detinue lies where the party claims the specific recovery of goods and chattels, or deeds and writings detained from him.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 58, No. 359, September 1845 by Various