Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun archaic The right of a lord to pursue a thief outside the lord's own jurisdiction and bring him back within his jurisdiction to be punished.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English *outfange(n) thef, from Old English ūtfangen þēof ("right of judging thieves caught outside one’s jurisdiction, and of taking fines for the crime"), from *ūtfangen, past participle of *ūtfōn ("to take out") + þēof ("thief"), equivalent to out- +‎ fang + thief. Compare infangthief.

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Examples

  • Instead, it’s actually outfangthief, which is the right of judging and fining thieves pursued and brought back from outside one’s own jurisdiction.

    March 2008 2008

  • Instead, it’s actually outfangthief, which is the right of judging and fining thieves pursued and brought back from outside one’s own jurisdiction.

    Must Try Harder ... 2008

  • Yes, can't remember where we came across outfangthief.

    Must Try Harder ... 2008

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