n.
Pronunciation: ri- ' ple-v ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from replevir to give security, from re- + plevir to pledge, from Late Latin *plebere ― more at PLEDGE
Date: 15th century
1 : the recovery by a person of goods or chattels claimed to be wrongfully taken or detained upon the person's giving security to try the matter in court and return the goods if defeated in the action
2 : the writ or the common-law action whereby goods and chattels are replevied