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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MAINPERNOR

n.In law, a surety 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

MAINPERNOR

Main "per *nor, n. Etym: [OF. main hand + pernor, for preneor, a taker, F. preneur, fr. prendre to take. ] (Law )

Defn: A surety, under the old writ of mainprise, for a prisoner's appearance in court at a day.

Note: 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.