About The Word Distrain

Bay Area Crosswords

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Distrain

Distrain Meaning & Definition
Distrain Definition And Meaning

What's The Definition Of Distrain?

[v] legally take something in place of a debt payment
[v] confiscate by distress
[v] levy a distress on

Synonyms | Synonyms for Distrain:

Related Terms | Find terms related to Distrain:

See Also | attach | confiscate | impose | impound | levy | reclaim | repossess | seize | sequester

Distrain In Webster's Dictionary

\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.
\Dis*train"\, v. i. To levy a distress. Upon whom I can distrain for debt. --Camden.

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