duress

du·ress   (dŏŏ-rěs', dyŏŏ-)    n.   Constraint by threat; coercion: confessed under duress. Law Coercion illegally applied. Forcible confinement. [Middle English duresse, harshness, compulsion, from Old French durece, hardness, from Latin dūritia, from dūrus, hard; see deru- in Indo-European roots.]

duress 

Main Entry: du·ress
Pronunciation: du-'res, dyu-
Function: noun
Etymology: Anglo-French duresce, literally, hardness, harshness, from Old French, from Latin duritia, from durus hard
: wrongful and usually unlawful compulsion (as threats of physical violence) that induces a person to act against his or her will : COERCION; also : the affirmative defense of having acted under duress —see also ECONOMIC DURESS —compare NECESSITY, UNDUE INFLUENCE
NOTE: A person may be able to avoid the consequences of his or her acts under the law if they were performed while under duress. For example, a contract made under duress is voidable by the coerced party. Similarly, a will signed under duress is invalid. Duress may also be used to justify a criminal act. A threat to bring a lawsuit is not duress.