term:

Distrain

distrain vb

[Anglo-French destreindre, literally, to constrict, force, from Old French, from Late Latin distringere to hinder, punish, from Latin, to pull in different directions, distract, from dis- apart + stringere to draw tight]
vt
1 : to force or compel to satisfy an obligation by means of a distress
2 : to seize by distress compare enter
vi
: to levy a distress
dis·train·able adj

dis·train·er [-strā-nər]

or
dis·train·or
[di-strā-nər, dis-trā-nōr]

n

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.