Word: squeeze Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From earlier squize, squise (whence also dialectal English squizzen and squeege), first attested around 1600, further origin uncertain; probably an alteration of quease (which is attested since 1550), from Middle English queisen (“to squeeze”), from Old English cwȳsan (“to crush, squeeze”), itself also of unknown origin, perhaps imitative (compare Swedish qväsa, kväsa (“to squeeze, bruise, crush; quell”), Dutch kwetsen (“to injure, hurt”), German quetschen (“to squeeze”)). Or, a blend of obsolete squiss (“to squeeze”) (whence also squash and squish) with quease. Compare also French esquicher from Old Occitan esquichar (“to press, squeeze”). The slang expression "to put the squeeze on (someone or something)", meaning "to exert influence", is from 1711. The baseball term "squeeze play" is first recorded 1905. "Main squeeze" ("most important person") is attested from 1896, the specific meaning "one's sweetheart, lover" is attested in 1970s. The nonstandard strong forms squoze and squozen, attested dialectally since at least the mid-19th century, are by analogy with freeze. Pronunciation: /skwiːz/ 1. An instance of squeezing. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: to give something a squeeze Example: Dip your sponge into the water, tehn turn it over and dip it again. That gets both sides wet. Now give it a squeeze to get most of the water out—but not all of it! You'll get the feel of how much water you need in your sponge as you practice with the clay. 2. A close or tight fit. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. A difficult position. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: I'm in a tight squeeze right now when it comes to my free time. Example: There is a growing recognition that, as the population ages and the squeeze on NHS resources continues, better ways of supporting older people outside hospital need to be developed. 4. A hug or other affectionate grasp. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: a gentle squeeze on the arm 5. A romantic partner. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable Example: I want to be your main squeeze. Example: “No, Mona. Her new squeeze is one of Wage's boys.” 6. An illicit alcoholic drink made by squeezing Sterno through cheesecloth, etc., and mixing the result with fruit juice. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable 7. The act of bunting in an attempt to score a runner from third. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The game ended in exciting fashion with a failed squeeze. 8. A play that forces an opponent to discard a card that gives up one or more tricks. Labels: countable, uncountable 9. A traversal of a narrow passage. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: It was a tight squeeze, but I got through to the next section of the cave. Example: The most notorious squeezes have names: the Gun Barrel, Jam Crack, the Electric Armpit Crawl, Devil's Pinch. 10. A moulding, cast or other impression of an object, chiefly a design, inscription etc., especially by pressing wet paper onto the surface and peeling off when dry. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Nollekens, finding his wife always benefited by these visits, never refused White a squeeze of a patera, or any thing that would answer his purpose; […] White […] had turned his wine-cellars into manufactories for the produce of cast coins, and moderns squeezes from Roman lamps. 11. The gradual closing of workings by the weight of the overlying strata. Labels: countable, uncountable 12. The situation experienced by a middleman when pressured from both sides, especially financially. Labels: countable, dated, uncountable Example: Thus was established a powerful Chinese combination, which maintained itself by submitting to a heavy "squeeze" at the hands of the Viceroy and Governor of Canton on the one hand and of the Hoppo on the other. 13. A bribe, fee, or extortionary price paid to a middleman, especially in China; the practice of requiring such a bribe or fee. Labels: countable, dated, uncountable Example: If the licence […] was costly, it secured to them uninterrupted and extraordinary pecuniary advantages; but on the other hand it subjected them to 'calls' or 'squeezes' for contributions to public works, […] for the relief of districts suffering from scarcity […] as well as for the often imaginary […] damage caused by the overflowing of the 'Yangtse Keang' or the 'Yellow River.' Example: The mattress shop had been bought with the proceeds of squeeze obtained by him from a former American employer. 14. A person's neck. Labels: UK, countable, obsolete, slang, uncountable Example: "Got his description putty close: Short black 'air, black whiskers, with a crips^([sic]) curl at the hedges; a white choker, tight round his squeeze; dressed in black, and orful hugly," remarked the policeman.