replevin
Americannoun
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an action for the recovery of goods or chattels wrongfully taken or detained.
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the common-law action or writ by which goods are replevied.
verb (used with object)
noun
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the recovery of goods unlawfully taken, made subject to establishing the validity of the recovery in a legal action and returning the goods if the decision is adverse
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(formerly) a writ of replevin
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of replevin
1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French, derivative of replevir to bail out, admit to bail, Old French. See re-, pledge
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Argonauts promised to produce this contract, adding that if Engineer Sikorsky continued unconvinced they would pay him a balance due of $8,000, attach the plane through a writ of replevin, drop Capt.
From Time Magazine Archive
One firm, Merchant & Co., which had supplied the iron for his kiln and vault, had gone so far as to secure a writ of replevin to take the iron back.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Another action is replevin which is used to recover specific goods.
From Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman by Bolles, Albert Sidney
A writ of replevin or some other process was issued,—I never knew exactly what,—directing the sheriff to take possession of the boat when it landed.
From Ox-Team Days on the Oregon Trail by Wilson, F. N. (Frederick N.)
One of his horses had been stolen by the boss of a passing herd, and he wanted a writ of replevin.
From The Aventures of Buffalo Bill by Cody, Col. William F.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
