imprest

Prefix form of prest, perhaps after Italian imprestare, or perhaps from a misunderstand of the phrase in prest.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɪmpɹɛst/

imprest (plural imprests)

1. An advance of funds, especially to a government service or employee. [from 16th c.]
   • 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society 2010, p. 240:

     Calling on Lacon at the Cabinet Office to deliver the Circus's monthly imprest account for his inspection, he had been astonished to see Sam emerging from his private office, joking easily with Lacon and Saul Enderby of the Foreign Office.

imprest (third-person singular simple present imprests, present participle impresting, simple past and past participle imprested)

1. To advance funds on loan.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Burke to this entry?)

• impressed

• mipster, permits, primest