verb
- past tense of distrain; seized someone’s property as security for unpaid debt or rent
Usage: legal; formal
Examples
- The landlord distrained the tenant’s furniture for unpaid rent.
- The court officer distrained the debtor’s assets.
- His cattle were distrained by the sheriff.
- The property was distrained until the taxes were paid.
- They distrained goods worth twice the amount owed.
- The bailiff distrained everything of value in the house.