Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MAIN-OR, n. [Old Fr. manoevre, meinour, L. a manu, from the hand, or in the work.]

The old law phrase, to be taken as a thief with the mainor, signifies to be taken in the very act of killing venison or stealing wood, or in preparing so to do; or it denotes the being taken with the thing stolen upon him. Blackstone.