Grease, subs. (common).—1. A bribe; palm-oil (or -grease). (q.v. for synonyms). In America Boodle (q.v.). greasing = bribing.
1823. Bee, Dict. of Turf, s.v. A bonus given to promote the cause of anyone.
2. (printers’).—Well-paid work; fat (q.v.).
3. (common).—Fawning; flattery (a figurative use of sense 1).
Verb (old).—1. To bribe; to corrupt by presents; to tip (q.v.). Also more fully to grease in the fist, hand, or palm. Fr., coquer la boucanade. For synonyms, see Square.
1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. 68, pt. 2, p. 159 (E.D.S.). How husbandrie easeth, to huswiferie pleaseth, And manie purse greaseth With silver and gold.
1578. Whetstone, Promoss and Cassandra, ii., 3. Grease them well in their hands.
1592. Greene, Quip, in wks., xi., 261. That did you not grease the sealers of Leaden Hall throughly in the fist, they should never be sealed, but turned away and made forfiet by the statute.
1619. Fletcher, Wild Goose Chase. Am I greased once again?
1649. F. Quarles, Virgin Widow, IV., i., p. 40. Greaze my fist with a Tester or two, and ye shall find it in your penny-worths.