Home UK English detinue

Meaning of detinue in English:

detinue

Pronunciation /ˈdɛtɪnjuː/

noun

mass nounLaw

  • The crime of wrongful detention of goods or personal possessions (replaced in the UK by the tort of wrongful interference of goods).

    • ‘He is also being sued by the companies for trespass, conversion and detinue, and for monies had and received to the use of the companies.’

Origin

Late Middle English from Old French detenue, past participle (used as a noun) of detenir ‘detain’.