Infangthief
//ˈɪnfæŋθiːf// noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A privilege of some feudal lords permitting them to execute summary judgment upon thieves captured within their estates, sometimes restricted to the lord's tenants or men and sometimes limited to those caught in flagrante delicto. historical, uncountable
"The wrought-iron gates (infangthief and outfangthief in heavy balls on the gate-posts) were open for their hard-breathing entry."
Example
More examples"The wrought-iron gates (infangthief and outfangthief in heavy balls on the gate-posts) were open for their hard-breathing entry."
Etymology
From Middle English infangthef, from Old English infangeneþēof (“infangthief”), from in- + fangen (“seized, taken”) + þēof (“thief”). See also infang.
Related phrases
More for "infangthief"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.