distrain

v. Law, -trained, -train·ing, -trains.

v.tr.

1. To seize and hold (property) to compel payment or reparation, as of debts.
2. To seize the property of (a person) in order to compel payment of debts; distress.

v.intr.
To levy a distress.

[Middle English distreinen, from Old French destreindre, destreign-, from Medieval Latin distringere, distrinct-, from Latin, to hinder : dis-, apart; see dis- + stringere, to draw tight.]

distrainable dis·train'a·ble adj.
distrainment dis·train'ment n.
distrainor dis·trai'nor or dis·train'er n.

(di-STRAYN)
verb tr., intr.
To seize the property in order to force payment for damages, debt, etc.

Etymology
From Middle English distreinen, from Old French destreindre, from Latin distringere, (to draw asunder), from dis- (apart) + stringere (to draw tight). Some other words that derive from the same root are strain, strict, stringent, constrain, restrict.

Usage
"The bailiffs, who distrained the property of Most-Bank on Wednesday, violated the law, which has allowed bank managers to launch a counterattack against them." — Companies and Markets; The Moscow Times (Russia); Aug 26 2000.

"Bolingbroke: My father's goods are all distrain'd and sold." — William Shakespeare; The Tragedy of King Richard the Second; 16th c.

---

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

To seize the property of an individual and retain it until an obligation is performed. The taking of the goods and chattels of a tenant by a landlord in order to satisfy an unpaid debt.

Distrain is a comprehensive term that may be used in reference to any detention of personal property, lawful or unlawful.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The verb has 3 meanings:

Meaning #1: levy a distress on

Meaning #2: confiscate by distress

Meaning #3: legally take something in place of a debt payment

---

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - gøre udlæg i
v. intr. - udpante, gøre udlæg

Nederlands (Dutch)
in beslag nemen

Français (French)
v. tr. - (Jur) saisir les biens de qn
v. intr. - (Jur) saisir les biens de qn, opérer la saisie des biens de qn

Deutsch (German)
v. - beschlagnahmen, pfänden

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - (νομ.) κατάσχω, προβαίνω σε κατάσχεση

Italiano (Italian)
sequestrare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - arrestar

Русский (Russian)
описывать имущество

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - embargar
v. intr. - embargar

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - utmäta

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
扣押, 扣押财物

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 扣押
v. intr. - 扣押財物

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 압류하다
v. intr. - 압류하다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 差し押さえる

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يلقي الحجز ( بسبب استيفاء دين)‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮עיקל נכסים‬
v. intr. - ‮הטיל עיקול על נכס‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.