Eigne \Eigne\, a. [OF. aisn['e], ainsn['e], F. a[^i]n['e], fr. L. ante natus born before. Cf. {Esnecy}.] 1. (Law) Eldest; firstborn. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster] 2. Entailed; belonging to the eldest son. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] {Bastard eigne}, a bastard eldest son whose parents afterwards intermarry. [1913 Webster]
EIGNE, persons. This is a corruption of the French word aine, eldest or first born. 2. It is frequently used in our old law books, bastard eigne. signifies an elder bastard when spoken of two children, one of whom was; born before the marriage of his parents, and the other after; the latter is called mulier puisne. Litt. sect. 399.