noun
Archaic or literary term for a bribe. In modern Japanese, 賄賂 (わいろ) is the standard word. This form may appear in historical texts or classical literature.
古文書には「まいない」を贈った記録が残っている。
Old documents record that a 'まいない' (bribe) was given.
Modern standard word for 'bribe'. まいない is its archaic predecessor, now rarely used outside historical contexts.
The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 賄 and 賂 both relate to goods or wealth, and the reading まいない is an old native Japanese word for bribery.