1842 Times 7 Apr. 8/3 (advt.) The whole of the machinery..comprises a 62-inch paper machine with..three pairs of press rolls.

1880 J. Dunbar Pract. Papermaker 46 Prove the rolls level and parallel—the bottom couch roll with the press roll, [etc.].

1937 E. J. Labarre Dict. Paper 195/1 Press rolls are pairs of heavy rolls, termed ‘first’, ‘second’, and ‘third’ press rolls according to their order in the paper-machine, serving to press out the water from the web of paper.

1998 Nonwovens Industry (Nexis) Jan. 36 The unbonded spunbonded fabric is less prone to be affected by outside influences, such as turbulent airflow around vacuum boxes or pressrolls.

1934 E. Little Mod. Rhythmic Drumming 13 Known variously as the ‘Crush’, ‘Press’ or ‘Drag’ Roll, this is a ‘fake’ beat which has found its way into drumming for a very good reason... The stick (held fairly loosely) is ‘crushed’ on to the drum head, and allowed to ‘bounce’ a number of times.

1956 S. Longstreet Real Jazz 148 A press roll is played on snare drums.

1977 New Yorker 9 May 51/1 He principally used..powerful, accented press rolls on his snare drum.

1997 S. Barrow & P. Dalton Reggae i. 6/1 A less obvious heritage from Jonkanoo is audible in the press-rolls and percussive accents used by Jamaican drummers generally.