late Middle English (also in the sense 'press out, obtain by squeezing or wringing', used figuratively to mean 'extort'): from Old French expresser, based on Latin ex- 'out' + pressare 'to press'early 18th cent. (in the sense of the verb): extension of express; sense 1 from express train, so named because it served a particular destination without intermediate stops, reflecting an earlier sense of express 'done or made for a special purpose', later interpreted in the sense ‘rapid’. Senses relating to express delivery date from the institution of this postal service in 1891late Middle English: from Old French expres, from Latin expressus 'distinctly presented', past participle of exprimere 'press out, express', from ex- 'out' + primere 'press'