C13: via Old French from Late Latin praestus ready to hand; see presto
prest in British English2
(prɛst)
noun
obsolete
a loan of money
Word origin
C16: originally, loan money offered as an inducement to recruits, from Old French:advance pay in the army, from prester to lend, from Latin praestāre to provide, from prae before + stāre to stand
prest in American English
(prɛst)
noun
1. Obsolete
an advance of money, specif. one to men enlisting in the British army or navy