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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pres(s, v.¹ Also: presse. [ME and e.m.E. press- (a 1340), presse (c 1385), press (16th c.) to subject to pressure, push, oppress, impress, also Pres v.¹, OF presser (13th c. in Littré) press, harass, L. pressāre, frequent. of premere, pressum.]

1. tr. To cause to move by pushing. 1375 Barb. xvii 688.
Thai pressit the sow toward the wall

2. To exert pressure on a person or thing.

a. To crush. a1400 Leg. S. xlvii 165.
[He] pressit hir, to do hir pyne, As men dois grappis of the wyne a1450 Fifteen Ois 302.
As thow had bene Pressit in ane wyne persour

b. To compress; to squeeze (togidder, doun, etc.). 1551 Hamilton Cat. 105.
Ane gud mesure pressit doune & schakin to gidder and rinnand ouir sal thai gif to yow 1584 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 343.
The heiring … to be … presset within sufficient stark treyis a 1595 Misc. Spald. C. II xxx.
Tak plaister maid of wormewod with fresche butter … and presse tham togidder 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. Prov. No. 214. 1611-57 Mure Sonnets vi 13.
But those fayre brests' rype clusters quho myt presse [etc.]

c. Press down, to force (a person or thing) downwards.Also absol., to weigh someone down. 1531 Bell. Boece II 402.
For the javellouris … to put him haistely to deith … pressit down ane hevy burd on his wambe 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 180/9.
Quhen the croun of thorne was pressit down apon His heid a1599 Rollock Wks. I 324.
At last thou sall be pressed doun to hellabsol. c1520-c1535 Nisbet Ep. Ald Test. xxvi 6.
Relax thou birthingis pressand doun

d. To shape or flatten (cloth or bullion) in a press. a1500 Peblis to Play 15.
And said my curches ar nocht prest 15.. Christis Kirk 16 (M).
Thair kirtillis war … Weill prest with mony plaitis 1637 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. VI 361.
To … coyne with the milne and presse the bulyeoun

3. To oppress; to victimize. c1420 Wynt. i 1663 (C).
Na man sulde swa hardy be Hym to presse to tak or sla 1567 Sat. P. iv 106.
Sair it was to se ȝoure prince with murther prest

b. To damage (land). Cf. Oppres v. 6. 1658 Melrose Reg. Rec. I 172.
Who presses the grund thairof by keeping of over sowmes thairupon

4. To endeavour. = Pres v.¹ 4. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 338 (W).
Lat be to presse to pull the fruit In top of all the trie 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 225.
That, seeing the danger, we may presse to eschew it