noun
- A person who seizes or takes possession of another's property as security for a debt or to enforce payment of rent or taxes.
Usage: legal; archaic
Examples
- The distrainor seized the tenant's livestock to recover unpaid rent.
- Under medieval law, a distrainor had the right to hold property until debts were settled.
- The landlord acted as distrainor when the farmer failed to pay his annual dues.
- A distrainor must follow proper legal procedures before taking possession of goods.