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Press-money and Press-men

do not mean money given to impress men into the service and men so impressed; but ready money, and men ready for service. When a recruit has received the money, he binds himself to be ready for service whenever his attendance is required. Similarly, a press-gang is a gang to get ready men. (Old French prest, now prêt; Italian presto.)

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Preliminary Canter (A)
Premier Pas
Premonstratensian
Prendre un Rat par la Queue
Prepense
Preposterous
Presbyterian
Prescott
Presents
Preserver [Sotēr]
Press-money and Press-men
Prester John
Prestige
Presto
Preston and his Mastiffs
Pretender
Pretext
Prettyman (Prince)
Prevarication
Prevent
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