Daily AncestorPresser
A presser pressed garments with a heavy iron or pressing machine to remove wrinkles and set seams, usually in a clothing shop or factory.
Wiktionary defines a presser as a person or device that removes wrinkles, usually from clothing. From 1910 the census added an industry column, which shows where a presser worked, such as a coat factory or a tailor shop.
An older sense in Wiktionary is a member of a press-gang, who forced men into naval service. The Royal Navy used impressment in wartime from 1664 through the 1700s and early 1800s, so a presser in an English record of that time may be something quite different.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Presser." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/presser. Last checked 2026-10-12.