Grease (grēs), n. [OE.
grese, grece, F. graisse; akin to gras
fat, greasy, fr. LL. grassus thick, fat, gross, L.
crassus. Cf. Crass.] 1. Animal
fat, as tallow or lard, especially when in a soft state; oily or
unctuous matter of any kind.
2. (Far.) An inflammation of a horse's
heels, suspending the ordinary greasy secretion of the part, and
producing dryness and scurfiness, followed by cracks, ulceration, and
fungous excrescences.
Grease bush. (Bot.) Same as Grease
wood (below). -- Grease moth
(Zoöl.), a pyralid moth (Aglossa pinguinalis)
whose larva eats greasy cloth, etc. -- Grease
wood (Bot.), a scraggy, stunted, and somewhat
prickly shrub (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) of the Spinach family,
very abundant in alkaline valleys from the upper Missouri to
California. The name is also applied to other plants of the same
family, as several species of Atriplex and
Obione.
Grease (grēz or grēs; 277), v.
t. [imp. & p. p. Greased
(grēzd or grēsd); p. pr. & vb.
n. Greasing.]
1. To smear, anoint, or daub, with grease or
fat; to lubricate; as, to grease the wheels of a wagon.
2. To bribe; to corrupt with
presents.
The greased advocate that grinds the
poor.
Dryden.
3. To cheat or cozen; to overreach.
[Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
4. (Far.) To affect (a horse) with
grease, the disease.
To grease in the hand, to corrupt by
bribes. Usher.
