| n. | 1. | (Law) The act or proceeding of seizing personal property by distress. |
| Noun | 1. | distraint - 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" Synonyms: distress |