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press-gang

[pres-gang]
verb (used with object)
  1. to force (a person) into military or naval service.
  2. to coerce (a person) into taking a certain action, political stand, etc.: to be press-ganged into endorsing a candidate.
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press gang

or press·gang

noun
  1. a body of persons under the command of an officer, formerly employed to impress others for service, especially in the navy or army.
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Origin of press gang

First recorded in 1685–95
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for press-gang

Historical Examples of press-gang

  • The press-gang was soon on board us, and its officer asked to have the crew mustered.

    Ned Myers

    James Fenimore Cooper

  • "The press-gang's the best friend the Yankees has," said he a little sheepishly.

    The Frozen Pirate

    W. Clark Russell

  • I knew a press-gang was in the neighbourhood, but never thought of their coming our way.

  • The press-gang had originally nothing to do with "pressing."

  • One or two of the press-gang, who had muskets, fired, but they were not good shots.

British Dictionary definitions for press-gang

press gang

noun
  1. (formerly) a detachment of men used to press civilians for service in the navy or army
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verb press-gang (tr)
  1. to force (a person) to join the navy or army by a press gang
  2. to induce (a person) to perform a duty by forceful persuasionhis friends press-ganged him into joining the committee
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for press-gang

n.

1690s, from press (v.2) + gang (n.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper