replevin

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. An action to recover personal property said or claimed to be unlawfully taken.
2. n. The writ or procedure of such an action.
3. v. To replevy.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In law, a personal action which lies to recover possession of goods or chattels wrongfully taken or detained, upon giving security to try the right to them in a suit at law, and, if that should be determined against the plaintiff, to return the property replevied. Originally it was a remedy peculiar to cases for wrongful distress, but it may now be brought in all cases of wrongful taking or detention, with certain exceptions as to property in custody of the law, taken for a tax, or the like.
2. n. The writ by which goods and chattels are replevied.
3. n. Bail.
4. To replevy.

Wiktionary

1. n. law an action to recover personal property unlawfully taken; the writ or procedure of such action
2. v. transitive to replevy

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Law) A personal action which lies to recover possession of goods and chattle wrongfully taken or detained. Originally, it was a remedy peculiar to cases for wrongful distress, but it may generally now be brought in all cases of wrongful taking or detention.
2. n. The writ by which goods and chattels are replevied.
3. v. (Law) To replevy.