Definition of "distraining" []

• Present participle of distrain. (verb)

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• "A majority of his customers obtained their pianos on the "hire-purchase system," and oftener than not, they were persons of very small or very precarious income, who, rabid in the pursuit of gentility signed agreements they had little chance of fulfilling; when in pecuniary straits, they either raised money upon the instruments, or allowed them to fall into the hands of distraining creditors."
• "Obviously I do not support the idea of untrained and unsanctioned bailifs restraining or even distraining."
• "He pronounced avenue — EVENUE, and nothing — NOTHINK, so droll; and he had a Mr. Hodson, his hind from Mudbury, into the carriage with him, and they talked about distraining, and selling up, and draining and subsoiling, and a great deal about tenants and farming — much more than I could understand."