[re.plev.in] n [ME, fr. AF replevine, fr. replevir to give security, fr. OF, fr. re- + plevir to pledge, fr. (assumed) LL plebere--more at pledge] (15c) 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
[2]replevin vt (1678): replevy