Part 512

Pres`si*ros"ter (?), n. [L. presssus pressed (p. p. of premere) + rostrum beak: cf. F. pressirostre. See 4th Press.] (Zoˆl.) One of a tribe of wading birds (Pressirostres) including those which have a compressed beak, as the plovers.

Pres`si*ros"tral (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the pressirosters.

Pres"si*tant (?), a. [See 4th Press.] Gravitating; heavy. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Pres"sive (?), a. Pressing; urgent; also, oppressive; as, pressive taxation. [R.] Bp. Hall.

Press"ly (?), adv. Closely; concisely. [Obs.]

Press"man (?), n.; pl. Pressmen (&?;). 1. One who manages, or attends to, a press, esp. a printing press.

2. One who presses clothes; as, a tailor's pressman.

Press"man, n. [See 2d Press.] One of a press gang, who aids in forcing men into the naval service; also, one forced into the service.

Press"or (?), a. (Physiol.) Causing, or giving rise to, pressure or to an increase of pressure; as, pressor nerve fibers, stimulation of which excites the vasomotor center, thus causing a stronger contraction of the arteries and consequently an increase of the arterial blood pressure; -- opposed to depressor. Landois & Stirling.

Press"pack` (?), v. t. To pack, or prepare for packing, by means of a press.

Pres"sur*age (?), n. [F.] 1. Pressure.

2. The juice of the grape extracted by the press; also, a fee paid for the use of a wine press.

Pres"sure (?; 138), n. [OF., fr. L. pressura, fr. premere. See 4th Press.] 1. The act of pressing, or the condition of being pressed; compression; a squeezing; a crushing; as, a pressure of the hand.

2. A contrasting force or impulse of any kind; as, the pressure of poverty; the pressure of taxes; the pressure of motives on the mind; the pressure of civilization.

Where the pressure of danger was not felt.

Macaulay.

3. Affliction; distress; grievance.

My people's pressures are grievous.

Eikon Basilike.

In the midst of his great troubles and pressures.

Atterbury.

4. Urgency; as, the pressure of business.

5. Impression; stamp; character impressed.

All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past.

Shak.

6. (Mech.) The action of a force against some obstacle or opposing force; a force in the nature of a thrust, distributed over a surface, often estimated with reference to the amount upon a unit's area.

Atmospheric pressure, Center of pressure, etc. See under Atmospheric, Center, etc. -- Back pressure (Steam engine), pressure which resists the motion of the piston, as the pressure of exhaust steam which does not find free outlet. -- Fluid pressure, pressure like that exerted by a fluid. It is a thrust which is normal and equally intense in all directions around a point. Rankine. -- Pressure gauge, a gauge for indicating fluid pressure; a manometer.

Press"work` (?), n. The art of printing from the surface of type, plates, or engravings in relief, by means of a press; the work so done. MacKellar.