distraining

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.

The Piano Business Lisa Hirsch 2009

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.

Archive 2009-08-01 Lisa Hirsch 2009

Obviously I do not support the idea of untrained and unsanctioned bailifs restraining or even distraining.

Middle Classes Tell Cam: Sod Off, We're In It For The Money 2008

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.

Vanity Fair 2006

On pretence of distraining for the rent of a cottage, he has robbed the mother of these and other poor infant-orphans of two cows, which afforded them their whole sustenance.

The Life and Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves 2004

For this man fronting her was more than she had thought him, and suddenly it seemed that giving him up was almost as generous a gesture as this gesture of his, turning her loose to her happiness with another man and another cause, only distraining the small matter of gold for his pains.

One Corpse Too Many Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1979

If any one refused or neglected to attend, he was punished by a fine, and by distraining his goods, unless he had a just excuse.

Roman Antiquities, and Ancient Mythology For Classical Schools (2nd ed) Charles K. Dillaway

The authorities could not see, as did the champion of religious liberty, the opportunities of oppression that such a system afforded; nor could they feel with him the harshness of its taxation, nor the injustice of distraining dissenters 'goods, -- or, as he phrased it, "their lack of faith in God and in God's people to uphold religion."

The Development of Religious Liberty in Connecticut Maria Louise Greene

’ 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.

VIII. Private and Confidential 1917

First of all, he pronounced the property of Tiberius Gracchus to be forfeited to the gods because in fining and distraining upon a man who had appealed to a tribune, he had not yielded to his veto and had impugned his authority.

The History of Rome, Vol. VI 1905