A group of sailors, led by a commissioned or warrant officer, sent to scour port towns for seamen.
a detachment empowered to force civilians to serve in the army or navy
Formed body of personnel from a ship of the Royal Navy (either a ship seeking personnel for its own crew or from a 'press tender' seeking men for a number of ships) that would identify and force (press) men, usually merchant sailors into service on naval ships usually against their will.
the navy was authorised to press civilians into service. Gangs of sailors would carry out this duty.
Groups of men from the Royal Navy that would force men into service on ships against their will.
means of compelling men to join the navy, often by removing them by armed force. Legal but very unpopular.
The Press Gang are a group of fictional characters in the Marvel Comics universe, who first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #235 (October 1988), and were created by Chris Claremont.