prest

• POS: Adjective, Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

prest, imp. & p. p. 

 imp. & p. p. of Press.  [1913 Webster]

prest, a. [OF. prest, F. prêt, fr. L. praestus ready. Cf. Presto.].

•  Ready; prompt; prepared.  [1913 Webster]

  "All prest to such battle he was."  [1913 Webster]
•  Neat; tidy; proper.  Tusser.  [1913 Webster]

Prest money, money formerly paid to men when they enlisted into the British service; -- so called because it bound those that received it to be ready for service when called upon.

prest, n. [OF. prest, F. prêt, fr. OF. prester to lend, F. prêter, fr. L. praestare to stand before, to become surety for, to fulfill, offer, supply; prae before + stare to stand. See Pre-, and Stand, and cf. Press to force into service.].

•  Ready money; a loan of money.  [1913 Webster]

  "Requiring of the city a prest of six thousand marks."  [1913 Webster]
•  A duty in money formerly paid by the sheriff on his account in the exchequer, or for money left or remaining in his hands.  Cowell.  [1913 Webster]

prest, v. t. 

 To give as a loan; to lend.  [1913 Webster]
"Sums of money . . . prested out in loan."  [1913 Webster]