impressment

/ɪmˈprɛsmənt/

Other forms: impressments

Impressment was the practice of forcing men to serve in the military against their will. Most often used by the British Navy, impressment often involved violence.

Forcing someone to join the military might seem a little extreme, but the British navy used the method for centuries. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Britain was particularly determined to maintain its dominance around the world, and an enormous navy was considered necessary. Sailors were most likely to be strong-armed into service. British impressment of American colonists contributed to the tensions that led to the Revolutionary War.

Definitions of impressment

1. noun

   the act of coercing someone into government service
   synonyms: impress

   type of:

   seizure

   the taking possession of something by legal process