press gang

¹

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.

press-gang

²

[ 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.

press gang

noun

1. (formerly) a detachment of men used to press civilians for service in the navy or army

verb

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 persuasion

   his friends press-ganged him into joining the committee

Word History and Origins

Origin of press gang¹

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

He either issues puffs of air or decisions with the nuance of a press gang.

From Washington Post

But Sir Roger Gale said that care homes were already closing at an "alarming rate" and that it wouldn't be possible to "press gang" people into working in the sector.

From BBC

Dorothy "Dolly" Peel was a fishwife and smuggler who protected local sailors from the press gangs.

From BBC

He joined a straggling column of fugitive children, mostly boys, who trekked hundreds of miles east to Ethiopia to escape the war and rebel press gangs.

From Economist

A quartet of ensemble singers doubled as her press gang, merrily wreaking havoc on Pygmalion’s relationship with Céphise and interacting — as far as is possible — with some of the celebrity wax figures around the room.

From New York Times