Main"per*nor (?), n. [OF. main
hand + pernor, for preneor, a taker, F. preneur,
fr. prendre to take.] (Law)A surety, under the
old writ of mainprise, for a prisoner's appearance in court at a
day.
☞ Mainpernors differ from bail in that a man's
bail may imprison or surrender him before the stipulated day
of appearance; mainpernors can do neither; they are bound to
produce him to answer all charges whatsoever. Blackstone.