Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DIS-TRAIN', v.t. [L. distringo; dis and stringo. See Strain. Blackstone writes distrein.]

1. To seize for debt; to take a personal chattel from the possession of a wrong-doer into the possession of the injured party, to satisfy a demand, or compel the performance of a duty; as, to distrain goods for rent, or for an amercement.
2. To rend; to tear. [Obs.] – Spenser.