Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Distrain"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Distrain \Dis*train"\, v. i.
To levy a distress.
Upon whom I can distrain for debt. --Camden.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Distrain \Dis*train"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Distrained}; p. pr.
& vb. n. {Distraining}.] [OE. destreinen to force, OF.
destreindre to press, oppress, force, fr. L. distringere,
districtum, to draw asunder, hinder, molest, LL., to punish
severely; di- = stringere to draw tight, press together. See
{Strain}, and cf. {Distress}, {District}, {Distraint}.]
1. To press heavily upon; to bear down upon with violence;
hence, to constrain or compel; to bind; to distress,
torment, or afflict. [Obs.] ``Distrained with chains.''
--Chaucer.
2. To rend; to tear. [Obs.]
Neither guile nor force might it [a net] distrain.
--Spenser.
3. (Law)
(a) To seize, as a pledge or indemnification; to take
possession of as security for nonpayment of rent, the
reparation of an injury done, etc.; to take by
distress; as, to distrain goods for rent, or of an
amercement.
(b) To subject to distress; to coerce; as, to distrain a
person by his goods and chattels.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
distrain
v 1: levy a distress on
2: confiscate by distress
3: legally take something in place of a debt payment
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