eigne, a. Law.
(eɪn)
[corrupt spelling of ayne, ad. Fr. aîné.]
First-born, eldest; see ayne.
| 1586 J. Ferne Blaz. Gentrie 286 Hee hath issue a sonne naturall by a concubine and after marryeth the same concubine, him the lawyers of Englande, call a Bastarde eigne. 1613 Sir. H. Finch Law (1636) 253 Where there be many of one name, diuersitie of the names must be put by addition of eigne, puisne, etc. 1677 Wycherley Pl. Dealer iv. i, Thou art not so much as Bastard eigne. 1809 Tomlins Law Dict., Eigne, eldest or first-born; as bastard eigne. |
b. eigne title: a prior, superior title. eigne estate: one that is entailed.
| 1619 Dalton Countr. Just. lxxxiii. (1630) 213 By reason of the eigne title of the disseisee. c 1640 J. Smyth Hundred of Berkeley (1885) 264 Hee was remitted to his eigne estate taile, to him and to the heires males of his body. |