a fund of cash from which a department or other unit pays incidental expenses, topped up periodically from central funds
2. mainly British
an advance from government funds for the performance of some public business or service
3. British
(formerly) an advance payment of wages to a sailor or soldier
Word origin
C16: probably from Italian imprestare to lend, from Latin in- towards + praestāre to pay, from praestō at hand; see presto
imprest in American English
(ˈɪmˌprɛst)
noun
1.
a loan or advance of money, as from government funds
adjective
2. Accounting
designating a fund, as of petty cash, that is replenished in exactly the amount expended from it
Word origin
It impresto, a loan < (dare) in prestito, (to give) in loan < in, in + prestito, a loan < prestare, to lend < L praestare, to become surety for, lit., to stand before < prae-, before + stare, to stand