English

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Etymology

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Blend of down +‎ oppression; see downpressor.

Noun

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downpression (usually uncountable, plural downpressions)

  1. (Rastafari) oppression
    • 1983, Winona LaDuke, “They Always Come Back”, in Beth Brant, editor, A Gathering of Spirits, page 54:
      The downpression of native people is linked to the subjugation and exploitation of the Earth.
    • 2014, Marlon James, A Brief History of Seven Killings, Oneworld Publications (2015), page 156:
      Rastaman don’t deal with negativity so oppression is now downpression even though there is no up in the word.