Adjacent Words

press gang definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a detachment empowered to force civilians to serve in the army or navy

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Press Press, n. [For prest, confused with press.] A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy. I have misused the king's press. --Shak. Press gang, or Pressgang, a detachment of seamen under the command of an officer empowered to force men into the naval service. See Impress gang, under Impress. Press money, money paid to a man enlisted into public service. See Prest money, under Prest, a.