pressganging; conscription
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to pressgang; to forcibly conscript
archaicA historical term for the act of coercing able-bodied men into military service, often by force or intimidation. Describes a practice common before modern conscription systems.
During the war, many young men in the village were pressganged into the army.
In those days, pressganging was a very frightening thing.
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To avoid being conscripted, he hid in the mountains.
verb
to pressgang; to forcibly recruit laborers
archaicA historical term for the forcible recruitment of common people for labor, such as building projects or porterage for the military. Often used interchangeably with the first sense, but can imply non-military forced labor.
The government sent people to pressgang laborers to repair the city walls.
The pressganging of men for labor and military service made the common people's lives miserable.