Distrain
Distrain , transitive verb
[Old English destreinen to force, Old French destreindre to press, oppress, force, from Latin distringere, districtum, to draw asunder, hinder, molest, Late Latin, to punish severely; di- = stringere to draw tight, press together. See Strain, and compare 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. [Obsolete]
Distrained with chains.
2.
To rend; to tear. [Obsolete]
Neither guile nor force might it [a net] distrain.
3.
(a) (Law) 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)
(Law) To subject to distress; to coerce; as, to distrain a person by his goods and chattels.
Distrain , intransitive verb
To levy a distress.
Upon whom I can distrain for debt.