- press gang
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a body of persons under the command of an officer, formerly employed to impress others for service, esp. in the navy or army.Also, pressgang.[1685-95]
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Universalium. 2010.
press gang
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press-gang — press gangs, press ganging, press ganged 1) VERB: usu passive If you are press ganged into doing something, you are made or persuaded to do it, even though you do not really want to. [mainly BRIT] [be V ed into ing/n] I was press ganged into… … English dictionary
press-gang — press gang1 v [T] 1.) press gang sb into doing sth informal to force someone to do something ▪ I don t want to press gang you into doing something you re not happy with. 2.) to force men to work on a ship, by taking them from the streets done in… … Dictionary of contemporary English
Press gang — Press Press, n. [For prest, confused with press.] A commission to force men into public service, particularly into the navy. [1913 Webster] I have misused the king s press. Shak. [1913 Webster] {Press gang}, or {Pressgang}, a detachment of seamen … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
press-gang — press′ gang n. a body of persons under the command of an officer, formerly employed to impress others for service, esp. in the military • Etymology: 1685–95 press′ gang , v.t … From formal English to slang
press gang — ► NOUN historical ▪ a body of men employed to enlist men forcibly into service in the army or navy. ► VERB (press gang) ▪ force into service … English terms dictionary
press-gang — [pres′gaŋ΄] vt. 1. Historical to force (someone) into naval or military service by means of a press gang 2. to force (someone) to do something … English World dictionary
press gang — n. [for prest gang: see PRESS2] Historical a group of men who round up other men and force them into naval or military service: also pressgang … English World dictionary
press gang — press ,gang noun count in the past, a group of men whose job was to force other men to join the military … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
Press Gang — This article is about the British television series Press Gang. For the old military practice of pressing men into service, see Impressment. Infobox television show name = Press Gang caption = Opening titles genre = Comedy Drama camera = Single… … Wikipedia
press-gang — UK / US verb [transitive] Word forms press gang : present tense I/you/we/they press gang he/she/it press gangs present participle press ganging past tense press ganged past participle press ganged 1) informal to force someone into doing something … English dictionary
press gang — Impress Im press, n.; pl. {Impresses}. 1. The act of impressing or making. [1913 Webster] 2. A mark made by pressure; an indentation; imprint; the image or figure of anything, formed by pressure or as if by pressure; result produced by pressure… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
