Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Duress \Du"ress\, n. [OF. duresse, du?, hardship, severity, L.
   duritia, durities, fr. durus hard. See {Dure}.]
   1. Hardship; constraint; pressure; imprisonment; restraint of
      liberty.

            The agreements . . . made with the landlords during
            the time of slavery, are only the effect of duress
            and force.                            --Burke.

   2. (Law) The state of compulsion or necessity in which a
      person is influenced, whether by the unlawful restrain of
      his liberty or by actual or threatened physical violence,
      to incur a civil liability or to commit an offense.

Duress \Du*ress"\, v. t.
   To subject to duress. ``The party duressed.'' --Bacon.

Source : WordNet®

duress
     n : compulsory force or threat; "confessed under duress"