press-ganged
Drafted against will
Press-ganged means forced into service, originally referring to the historical practice of impressment—seizing men and compelling them to serve in the navy.
Now used figuratively for being coerced into any unwanted task or role: I got press-ganged into helping with the move.
The hyphenated form functions as a verb or adjective.
Coerced into ship service
- dragoonedForced into service
- conscriptedInvoluntarily enlisted for duty
- forcedMade to occur unwillingly
- compelledMade to act
coerced · unwilling · kidnapped · seized · commandeered · abducted · impressed · grabbed
Forced military recruitment
- Royal NavyUK naval military branch
- sailorsMaritime vessel crew members
- crimpsPinches into waves
- shipsSeagoing vessels
merchant ships · seamen · warships · harbors · dockside · taverns · boarding · crews
Era of wind-propelled ships
- 18th centuryYears 1701-1800
- Napoleonic WarsBonaparte's military campaigns
- British EmpireVast colonial domain
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
privateers · admiralty · Georgian era · naval warfare · war effort · conscription · maritime law
shanghaied
Coerced into ship service
- dragoonedForced into service
- conscriptedInvoluntarily enlisted for duty
- forcedMade to occur unwillingly
compelled · coerced · unwilling · kidnapped · seized · commandeered · abducted · impressed · grabbed · snatched
impressment
Forced military recruitment
- Royal NavyUK naval military branch
- sailorsMaritime vessel crew members
- crimpsPinches into waves
ships · merchant ships · seamen · warships · harbors · dockside · taverns · boarding · crews · fleet
Age of Sail
Era of wind-propelled ships
- 18th centuryYears 1701-1800
- Napoleonic WarsBonaparte's military campaigns
- British EmpireVast colonial domain
warfare · privateers · admiralty · Georgian era · naval warfare · war effort · conscription · maritime law
press-gangedvolunteered
Gave services unpaid
signed up · volunteering · self-selected · opted in · consented
press, gang, pressed, presses, pressing, presser, pressure, pressured, pressures