Where does “pressgang” come from?
pressgang (English) comes from English press-gang, from English press, from Middle English presse, from Old French presse, from Old French presser, from Latin pressāre, from Latin premere, from Latin premo — passed , crossed.
pressgang (English): Alternative spelling of press-gang
Definitions
- Alternative spelling of press-gang
Ancestry of “pressgang”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | press-gang | A body of men employed to force others into... |
| 2 | English | press | A device used to apply pressure to an item; A... |
| 3 | Middle English | presse | throng, crowd, clothespress |
| 4 | Old French | presse | — |
| 5 | Old French | presser | to press |
| 6 | Latin | pressāre | — |
| 7 | Latin | premere | second-person singular future passive indicative... |
| 8 | Latin | premo | I press; I pursue |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pres- | to press |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |