press roll

English

Noun

press roll (plural press rolls)

1. A type of heavy roller, especially as used in papermaking.
2. (jazz) A type of drum roll whereby the drumsticks are pressed against the skin of the drum.
   • 1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “They Found the Body in a Ditch”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 2 (1923–1928: Chicago, Chicago), page 62:

     I really went for Ray's press roll on the drums; he was the first fay boy I ever heard who mastered this vital foundation of jazz music.