▪ I. ˈpressman1
[f. press n.1 + man n.1]
1. A man engaged in a wine-press. rare—1.
| c 1611 Chapman Iliad xviii. 516 One only path to all, by which the pressmen came In time of vintage. |
2. A man who operates or manages a printing-press; esp. a hand-press printer.
| 1598 Florio, Battitóre,..a Printers presse-man. 1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing xxiv. ¶5 When the Press⁓man Pulls, the Tennants of the Head shall have an equal Horizontal level Check. 1763 W. Lewis Comm. Phil.-Techn. 374 The care and attention of the pressmen in well working the ink on the types with the balls, are very material points. 1866 Brande & Cox Dict. Sc., etc. III. 74/1 Pressmen, who apply ink to the surface of the form of types, and take off the impressions upon paper. The pressmen who work steam presses are called machine minders. 1894 Labour Comm. Gloss., Pressmen, mechanics engaged in printing by the old hand presses (very few now) taking off impressions on paper, whether from type, stone, wood⁓cuts, or metal plates. |
3. One who writes or reports for the daily or weekly press; a reporter, a journalist.
| 1859 Sala Tw. round Clock (1861) 34 This brave old press⁓man, who,..when there were neither contributors nor compositors to be found at hand, bravely took off his coat, and in his shirt-sleeves first translated, and then..proceeded to set up in type his own manuscript. 1888 Pall Mall G. 13 Sept. 4/2 Our Commissioner..was not the first press man presented to the Japanese Sovereign. 1898 Daily News 31 Aug. 6/3 (Institute of Journalists) Sir Edward Russell delivered his presidential address before a large audience of pressmen from various parts of the country. |
4. In shoemaking: A workman who stamps out the sole-leather for boots or shoes with a press.
| 1895 Daily News 22 Mar. 7/3 The demand for an increase of wages to clickers and pressmen. 1897 Ibid. 17 Mar. 3/2 A minimum wage of 28s. per week for clickers and 26s. per week for press men. |
▪ II. † ˈpressman2
[f. press n.2 or v.2 + man n.1 In sense 1 perh. for prest-man.]
1. A man ‘pressed’ into naval or military service; an impressed man. Also fig. Now only arch.
| 1638 Earl of Manchester in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 282 The soldiers that are to go must now be press men. 1665 Pepys Diary 10 May, To get some soldiers..to go keep pressmen on board our ships. 1978 Church Times 17 Feb. 11/4 In religious education there has been a constant battle waged to rise to the challenge of the 1944 Act and ensure that the subject is taught by qualified specialists rather than by willing amateurs or, worse, by reluctant press-men. |
† 2. A member of a press-gang. Obs.
| 1755 Johnson, Pressman, i. One who forces another into service; one who forces away. 1775 in Ash. 1828 in Webster; and in mod. Dicts. |