greaser · noun1
From 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, and, 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.
Greaser · proper noun2
- German · derived fromGriesser
- English todayGreaser
Americanized spelling of German Griesser.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.