Distress
A Dictionary of Law · Henry Campbell Black · 1891
A Dictionary of Law
The taking a personal chattel out of the possession of a wrong-oer into the custody of the party injured, to procure a satisfaction for a wrong committed; as for taking of beasts or other personal property; by way of pledge, to enforee the performance ef something due from the party distrained upon.
38 Bl, Comm. 231. The taking of a defendant’s goods, in order to compel an appearance in court, Id. 280; 3 Steph. Comm. 361, 368.