impound

Etymology

From im- + pound.

verb

1. (transitive) To shut up or place in an enclosure called a pound.
   His car was impounded after he parked it illegally.
   Noveria Approach Control: Landing access granted, Normandy. Noveria Approach Control: Be advised: we will be confirming identification on arrival. If confirmation cannot be established, your vessel will be impounded. 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Noveria
2. (transitive) To hold back.
   water impounded by a dam
3. (transitive, law) To hold in the custody of a court or its delegate.
   to impound stray cattle; to impound a document for safekeeping.
   I particularly enjoyed the tale of the Folkestone tank engine, which, in October, 1886, was impounded by H. M. Customs after smuggled brandy was found concealed in its coal bunker; the tank spent over a month in a harbour siding under Customs seal and proceedings were seriously contemplated against the S.E.R., as well as against the crew, for the engine's part in the affair. 1963 September, “New Books: The Locomotives of the South Eastern Railway”, in Modern Railways, page 216
4. (transitive, law, banking) To collect and hold (funds) for payment of property taxes and insurance on property in which one has a security interest.

noun

1. A place in which impounded things are stored.
   "You're gonna drive me to the impound so I can get my car?" 1997, Edward Bunker, Dog Eat Dog, page 36
2. (uncountable) The state of being impounded.
   I already checked that out, and Keller has never called to get it out of impound. 2010, Neal Locke, No Plan, page 161
3. That which has been impounded.
   He handed the keys to the woman and pointed toward the corner of the lot where the impounds were stored. 2002, James E. Wollrab, Malfeasance, page 190
4. (law, banking) Amounts collected from a debtor and held by one with a security interest in property for payment of property taxes and insurance.