Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

press-gang

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.41 in modern English

Syllables: press--gang
IPA

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A body of men employed to force others (impress them) into military service, especially naval service.

verb

To force (someone) into military or naval service.

Transitive verb

verb

To coerce (somebody) into doing something that they are reluctant to do.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

""If this is a press gang," Lyle remarked, "you should know that my diet is extremely poor, I'm too tall for trenches and I blow away in a light breeze.""

Etymology

From press + gang.

Usage

Transitive verb

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Military.

Inflected Forms

press-gangs (plural) pressgang (alternative) press gang (alternative) press-gangs (present, singular) press-ganging (participle, present) press-ganged (participle, past) press-ganged (past)

Phrases

draft board King's shilling take the shilling

Frequently Paired Words

impressment draft board King's shilling take the shilling conscript draft railroad

Synonyms

press shanghai

Questions

What does press-gang mean?: A body of men employed to force others (impress them) into military service, especially naval service.
Where does press-gang come from?: From press + gang.

How to pronounce press-gang

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