General
press
What does press mean?
A kitchen cupboard. The thing British people call a cupboard, Americans call a cabinet, the Irish call a press. Universal in Ireland — saying 'cupboard' marks you as a blow-in.
"The biscuits are in the press over the kettle."
Origin
Older English word for a large cupboard or wardrobe (think 'clothes press'). Died out across most of Britain but stayed alive and well in Hiberno-English as the default word for any cupboard.
Frequently asked questions
What does press mean as a cupboard?
In Irish and Hiberno-English usage, a press is a cupboard, the place where cups, tins, or clothes are kept.
How do you use press in a sentence?
"The mugs are in the press above the kettle."
What is a hot press?
A hot press is the airing cupboard, typically the one containing the water tank where towels and linens are kept warm and dry.
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