1. a person who seizes property or goods as security for payment of a debt or performance of an obligation
Usage: legal term; chiefly British

Examples

• The distrainer took possession of the tenant's belongings after the rent remained unpaid for three months.
• Under common law, a distrainer had the right to seize livestock or equipment to recover debts.
• The landlord hired a distrainer to recover the outstanding rent from the property.
• A distrainer must follow proper legal procedures before seizing any assets.
• The distrainer's actions were challenged in court as exceeding the scope of the original debt.