\Det"i*nue\ (?; 277), n. [OF. detinu, detenu, p. p. of
detenir to detain. See {Detain}.]
A person or thing detained; (Law) A form of action for the
recovery of a personal chattel wrongfully detained.
{Writ of detinue} (Law), one that lies against him who
   wrongfully detains goods or chattels delivered to him, or
   in possession, to recover the thing itself, or its value
   and damages, from the detainer. It is now in a great
   measure superseded by other remedies.