impressment Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of coercing someone into government service
    impress.

WordNet

Im*press"ment noun
Definitions
  1. The act of seizing for public use, or of impressing into public service; compulsion to serve; as, the impressment of provisions or of sailors.
    The great scandal of our naval service -- impressment -- died a protracted death. J. H. Burton.

Webster 1913