greaser

American  

[gree-ser] / ˈgri sər /

noun

1. a person or thing that greases.

2. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Latin American, especially a Mexican.

3. Slang. a swaggering young tough, especially a member of a street gang.

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greaser British  

/ ˈɡriːzə, ˈɡriːsə /

noun

1. a mechanic, esp of motor vehicles

2. a semiskilled engine attendant aboard a merchant ship

3. a young long-haired motorcyclist, usually one of a gang

4. an unpleasant person, esp one who ingratiates himself with superiors

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Etymology

Origin of greaser

First recorded in 1635–45; grease + -er ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

greaser

In that scene from “Grease,” Danny excitedly greets his summer sweetheart Sandy, before quickly playing it too cool and aloof, saving face for his T-Birds greaser squad.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2025

When Sandy's parents enroll her in Rydell High, where Danny attends and is the leader of the greaser gang, the T-birds, the romance has a chance to continue.

From Salon ● Aug. 9, 2022

Grease is about US teenagers in the 1950s, with a summer romance between "good girl Sandy and greaser Danny" becoming complicated when they end up in the same high school.

From BBC ● May 10, 2022

The Beach Boys and their inspiration, the duo Jan and Dean, had inaugurated a school of rock ’n’ roll that had little to do with greaser rebellion.

From New York Times ● May 22, 2021

He might be a greaser in the round-house, a news-butcher upon the train, an office boy upstairs in the depot headquarters, an operator in a lonely country station.

From The Story of the Rome, Watertown, and Ogdensburg RailRoad by Edward Hungerford

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