Noun
The act or proceeding of seizing personal property by distress.
Source: Webster's dictionaryOriginally distress was a landlord's remedy against a tenant for unpaid rents or property damage but now the landlord is given a landlord's lien Source: Internet
An unwarranted seizure for debt was fined, as was the distraint of a working ox. Source: Internet
In the following months, ship money, fines in distraint of knighthood and excise without parliamentary consent were declared unlawful, and the Courts of Star Chamber and High Commission were abolished. Source: Internet