distraint Syllabification: (dis·traint)Pronunciation: /disˈtrānt/Definition of distraint noun Law the seizure of someone’s property in order to obtain payment of money owed, especially rent:many faced heavy fines and the distraint of goodsOrigin: mid 18th century: from distrain, on the pattern of constraintdistraint in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of distraint in the British & World English dictionary