Distraint

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Distraint \Dis*traint"\, n. [OF. destrainte distress, force.]
     (Law)
     The act or proceeding of seizing personal property by
     distress. --Abbott.
     [1913 Webster]



From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  distraint
       n : the seizure and holding of property as security for payment
           of a debt or satisfaction of a claim; "Originally
           distress was a landloard's remedy against a tenant for
           unpaid rents or property damage but now the landlord is
           given a landlord's lien" [syn: {distress}]