mainour

[ mey-ner ]

noun

, Old English Law.

1. a stolen article found on the person of or near the thief:

   to be taken with the mainour.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mainour¹

1225–75; Middle English < Anglo-French mainoure ( Old French manoeuvre hand labor); maneuver, inure

Example Sentences

Caught the thief, with the mainour, hey?

From Project Gutenberg

In the old editions this is spelt manour or mainour and means "in the act."

From Project Gutenberg

Such a one, in Athelstan's time, was ordered to abjure the country, which probably meant no more than that he was to leave his burgh or perhaps the shire in which he dwelt, but if ever he returned, he might be treated as a thief taken "hand-habbende" or one taken with stolen goods upon him, in other words, "with the mainour."

From Project Gutenberg