■ noun
1》 a thick oily substance, especially as used as a lubricant.
2》 animal fat used or produced in cooking.
■ verb smear or lubricate with ~.
Phrases
~ the palm of informal bribe. [ ~ expressing the sense 'cause to run smoothly' and palm , by assoc. with the taking of money.]
~ the wheels (also the skids ) informal, chiefly N. Amer. another way of saying oil the wheels (see oil ).
like ~d lightning informal extremely rapidly.
Derivatives
~less adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. graisse , based on L. crassus 'thick, fat'.