Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Distrain
Dis-train′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Distrained
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distraining
.] 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 chattelsDis-train′
,Verb.
I.
To levy a distress.
Upon whom I can
distrain
for debt. Camden.
Webster 1828 Edition
Distrain
DISTRAIN
,Verb.
T.
1.
To seize for debt; to take a personal chatel from the possession of a wrong-doer into the possession of the injured party, to satisfy a demand, or compel the performance of a duty; as, to distrain goods fro rent, or for an amercement.2.
To rend; to tear.