The action of press, v.2; impressment, requisition. Also occasionally: an instance of this, a press.

The impressing of men for service in the navy or (less frequently) the army; compulsory enlistment. Cf. impress, n.2, impressment, n.2 Now historical.

Impressment; enforced service in the army or navy.

= impressment, n.2

also attributive.

The drawing off, detachment, or selection of a party from a larger body for some special (spec. military) duty or purpose; spec. (esp. in U.S.)…

spec. The compulsory enlistment of civilians for military service; an instance of this. (Now the usual sense.)

The action of forcibly enlisting (a person) into military service; the action of forcing (a person) to do something.

a tax paid by the shedding of blood; spec. (a derogatory term for) military conscription.

The action or an act of summoning people to military service; esp. the compulsory enlistment of civilians for military service; conscription.

figurative. The action or process of ‘combing out’ (see comb, v.1 6b).