Eigne

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Eigne \Eigne\, a. [OF. aisn['e], ainsn['e], F. a[^i]n['e], fr.
     L. ante natus born before. Cf. {Esnecy}.]
     1. (Law) Eldest; firstborn. --Blackstone.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Entailed; belonging to the eldest son. [Obs.]


        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Bastard eigne}, a bastard eldest son whose parents
        afterwards intermarry.
        [1913 Webster]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  EIGNE, persons. This is a corruption of the French word aine, eldest or 
  first born. 
       2. It is frequently used in our old law books, bastard eigne. signifies 
  an elder bastard when spoken of two children, one of whom was; born before 
  the marriage of his parents, and the other after; the latter is called 
  mulier puisne. Litt. sect. 399.