ATTACHMENT, in the Law of England, implies the taking or apprehending a person by virtue of a writ or precept. It is distinguished from an arrest, by proceeding out of a higher court by precept or writ; whereas the latter proceeds out of an inferior court by precept only. An arrest lies only on the body of a man; whereas an attachment lies often on the goods only, and sometimes on the body and goods. An attachment by writ differs from distress, in not extending to lands, as the latter does; nor does a distress touch the body, as an attachment does.