Noah Webster
Duress
DURESS, noun [Latin See Durable.]
1. Literally, hardship; hence, constraint. Technically, duress in law, is of two kinds; duress of imprisonment, which is imprisonment or restraint of personal liberty; and duress by menaces or threats [per minas, ] when a person is threatened with loss of life or limb. Fear of battery is no duress duress then is imprisonment or threats intended to compel a person to do a legal act, as to execute a deed; or to commit an offense; in which cases the act is voidable or excusable.
2. Imprisonment; restraint of liberty.