Im″prest (ĭm″prĕst), 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.
The clearing of their imprests for what little of their debts they have received. Pepys.