Word Study
imprest
CIDE DICTIONARY
To advance on loan. Burke. [1913 Webster]
imprest, n. [Cf. It. impresto, imprestito, LL. impraestitum. See Imprest, v. t. , and Impress compulsion to serve.].
A kind of earnest money; loan; -- specifically, money advanced for some public service, as in enlistment. Burke. [1913 Webster]
"The clearing of their imprests for what little of their debts they have received."
OXFORD DICTIONARY
imprest, n. money advanced to a person for use in State business.
Etymology
orig. in prest f. OF prest loan, advance pay: see PRESS(2)
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