noun
mass nounLawThe 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’.
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