Greaser

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -iːsÉ™(r)

Origin

grease + -er. Applied to mechanics because they frequently become greasy during the course of their work. Applied to toughs because they frequently greased their hair; applied, like "greaseball", to Italians for the same reason. Applied to Mexicans because, at the time the phrase originated, they commonly worked greasing the axles of carts.

Full definition of greaser

Noun

1. Someone or something that greases (applies grease).
2. (slang) A mechanic.
3. (slang) A biker, a tough.
4. (US, offensive, ethnic slur) A Latin American, especially a Mexican.
5. (US, offensive, ethnic slur) An Italian.