Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Detinue \Det"i*nue\ (?; 277), n. [OF. detinu, detenu, p. p. of
   detenir to detain. See {Detain}.]
   A person or thing detained; (Law) A form of action for the
   recovery of a personal chattel wrongfully detained.

   {Writ of detinue} (Law), one that lies against him who
      wrongfully detains goods or chattels delivered to him, or
      in possession, to recover the thing itself, or its value
      and damages, from the detainer. It is now in a great
      measure superseded by other remedies.