A group of sailors, led by a commissioned or warrant officer, sent to scour port towns for seamen.

a detachment empowered to force civilians to serve in the army or navy

Formed body of personnel from a ship of the Royal Navy (either a ship seeking personnel for its own crew or from a 'press tender' seeking men for a number of ships) that would identify and force (press) men, usually merchant sailors into service on naval ships usually against their will.