L. Fr. Eldest; eldest-born. The term is of common occurrence in the oldbooks. Thus, bastard eigne means an illegitimate son whose parents afterwards marryand have a second soil for lawful issue , the latter being called mulier puisne , (afterborn.)Eigne is probably a corrupt form of the French “ain6.” 2 Bl. Comm. 248; Litt.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
