Law. Now Hist. Also 4–6 wyther-, (4 -ir-), 5–6 wethers, wider-, 4–7 -name. [Law-French (in Britton wythernam), presumably a. ON. viðrnám recorded only in the sense ‘resistance’ (but cf. early Da. vedernam pledge), f. viðr- WITHER-1 + nám NAAM. The etymological meaning is ‘reprisal.’] In an action of replevin, the reprisal of other goods in lieu of those taken by a first distress and eloigned; also, the writ (called capias in withernam) commanding the sheriff to take the reprisal.

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1292.  Britton, I. xxviii. § 3. Si les bestes soint … chacez hors del counté, ou si le baillif autre desturbaunce troeffe, tauntost face prendre des bestes del deforceour a la double value cum wythernam.

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1534.  Returna breuium, 418. De returno in replegiare lou le pleintyfe auera vne withernam.

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1542–3.  Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., c. 26 § 29. The Shirief shall have … for the making of Replegias twelvepence, and withernam upon the same twelve pence.

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1543.  trans. Act 13 Edw. I., c. 2. [A] courte, hauynge power to holde pleas of wythernam.

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1579.  Expos. Terms Law, 72 b. The party vpon ye returne of the sherife shall haue a writte of Withernam, directed to the Sherif, that he take as many of hys beastes … tyll yt hee hath made deliuerance of ye first distres.

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1599.  Life of Sir T. More, in Wordsw., Eccl. Biog. (1853), II. 102. Whether chattell taken [in] withername may be replevied.

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1618.  J. Wilkinson, Treat. Off. Coroners, II. 153 b. Then the plaintife may have a Withernam, which must be made in this maner.

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a. 1625.  Sir H. Finch, Law (1636), 354. In a repleuin in the Countie Court,… if the goods be conueyed away, so as at the Tenants suite they cannot be restored,… processe of withernam lyeth.

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1656.  trans. Noy’s Rep., 50. A Withernam was awarded, and executed, and now comes the Plaintiff and prays to declare, and prays a deliverance of the Withernam.

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1767.  Blackstone, Comm., III. ix. 149. Goods taken in withernam cannot be replevied, till the original distress is forthcoming.

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  b.  A process of distress (or arrest) for debt, formerly current in the Cinque Ports (and other towns).

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1314–5.  Cal. Letter-bks. Lond., E. (1903), 42. [The sum of 40s. which had been taken by way of] Withernam [from] Thomas de Grantham de Dyvelyn.

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1352.  Borough Customs (Selden Soc.), I. 122. Al sute du dit playntif, ci deit le bailif par assignement des jurés prendre une Wythirname sur qicomque vienge de la dite vile ou cité. Ibid. (1461–83), I. 125. Bayle and jurates may take a wythername agaynst all his tenauntes. Ibid. (1529), I. 125. Yf eny man have take toll or custum of eny freman of Cawnterbery, he that ys grevid may have a widername at Caunterbury therfore.

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1574.  Acts Privy Council (N. S.), VIII. 313. A letter to the Mayour of Dover … touching complaintes made against him by Fleminges for the arrest made by widernams. Ibid. (1576), IX. 215. Whereas Andrew Muller … of Hamboroughe was arrested at Dover by a writt of withernam.

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  c.  Reprisals taken at sea by letters of marque.

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1714.  Fortescue-Aland, Pref. Fortescue’s Abs. & Lim. Mon., 50. This Word Withernam also signifies Reprisals taken at Sea, by Letters of Mart-ships.

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