Law. Obs. [Aphetic form of DISTRAIN v. Cf. STRAIN sb.4] a. trans. To distrain (a person). Const. for. = DISTRAIN v. 7.
c. 1450. Godstow Reg., 506. That they may streyne hym in all his tenementis, and hold the distreynynges, tille hit were fully I-satisfied of the arrerages of the forsaid rente.
1489. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 102. To Sperdour to pass to strenȝe Alexander Cambell for siluer he wes awande.
a. 1500. Paston Lett., Suppl. 167. Or ellys a wolle dystrayne me … as a hath strayne [sic] my tenenttes byfore for thys mater and costys.
1607. Melrose Regality Rec. (S.H.S.), I. 36. The judge … ordanis the officer to poynd and strenze the defendar for thrette thre schilingis four pennyis.
b. absol. or intr. To levy a distress. Const. for, on, upon (a thing), of, on (a person or thing). = DISTRAIN v. 8.
1503. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 178. They should either have the rent, or be suffered to streyne on such guds as they fond on the ground. Ibid., 180. I wold have streaned, but ther could no man shew me which was your ground.
1511. in Exch. Rolls Scot., XIII. 445, note. Unlawis, amerciamentis, and eschutis … [to] raise and uplift and for the samyn to strenye gif neid heis.
1586. Acts Privy Counc. (1897), XIV. 88. Then shall he [the Sheriff] straine uppon his landes and goodes for the payment thereof.
1633. Rowley, Match at Midn., I. i. Smith. [This is] A vice sir, that I would faine bee furnisht with a little money upon ’t…. [I bought it] of a fat Cooke, that strain’d of a Smith for ’s rent.
1636. in Parish Bks. St. Julian’s, Shrewsbury (MS.), I. 16. It: paid for 5 warants to Strayne on those who refuse to pay.
1675. in J. P. Earwaker, E. Cheshire (1877), I. 116. Spent when we went to straine of the Quakers, 1s 8d.
1697. in Col. Rec. Pennsylv., I. 523. He wold demand, collect, or strain for ye sd assessment.
a. 1718. W. Penn, Wks. (1726), I. 673. Fining and Straining for Preaching and being at a Meeting.
fig. 1647. Trapp, Comm. 1 Cor. ix. 17. God will strain upon no man All his servants are a free people.
c. trans. To seize (goods) by way of distress = DISTRAIN v. 9.
1455. in W. Fraser, The Lennox (1874), II. 72. All our gudis mouable and vnmouable…, for to be tane, strenzet, poundyt, and … to be away hade.
1467. Maldon (Essex) Court Rolls, Bundle 43. no. 3v, In his voydyng the said Gate streynyd the goodis & cattells that he fownde within the said place.
1529. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., V. 380. Item,… to the currouris that past to streneȝe the bischop of Sanctandrois gudis for the temporalitie of Dunfermling iiij li.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Pignus, A man may not … seise or strayne ones ploughe in way of distresse.
1576. Gascoigne, Steele Glas, 1102. When baylifes strain, none other thing but strays.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen., 1176/1. To strain a mans goods, pignora cædere.
