mainpernor

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

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