Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Pressgang"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Pressgang \Press"gang`\, n.
See {Press gang}, under {Press}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.