To press heavily upon; to bear down upon with violence; hence, to constrain or compel; to bind; to distress, torment, or afflict. [Obs.] "Distrained with chains." Chaucer.
To rend; to tear. [Obs.] Neither guile nor force might it [a net] distrain. Spenser.
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.
To subject to distress; to coerce; as, to distrain a person by his goods and chattels.
To levy a distress. Upon whom I can distrain for debt. Camden.
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