Mainpernor

1 definition found

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

  Mainpernor \Main"per*nor\, n. [OF. main hand + pernor, for
     preneor, a taker, F. preneur, fr. prendre to take.] (Law)
     A surety, under the old writ of mainprise, for a prisoner's
     appearance in court at a day.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     Note: Mainpernors differ from bail in that a man's bail may
           imprison or surrender him before the stipulated day of
           appearance; mainpernors can do neither; they are bound
           to produce him to answer all charges whatsoever.
           --Blackstone.
           [1913 Webster]