Etymology Map
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Grease

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a thick oily substance

Where does the word "grease" come from? It comes from Latin crassus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
crassus
Latin · ancient
"thick, fat"
the root of 'crass'
2
Stage 2 of 3
graisse
Old French · medieval
"fat"
animal fat used in cooking and tanning
3
Stage 3 of 3
grease
English · 1300s
"animal fat"
'grease someone's palm' dates from the 1500s
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Read the full story

Grease’s story begins in Latin: crassus meant “thick, fat.” The root of 'crass'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as graisse. Animal fat used in cooking and tanning. It reached English by 1300s as grease. 'grease someone's palm' dates from the 1500s. Today, grease means a thick oily substance.