squeezingn.
1. figurative.1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Squeezing of Wax, being bound for any Body; also sealing of Writings.
a. The action of pressing or compressing; the fact of being compressed. Also with out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > pressing, pressure, or squeezing > [noun]
distressc1384
press?1440
presseragec1450
thresting1481
thringing1483
thrust1513
squass1528
pressionc1540
squizing1565
pressure1601
squeezing1611
squishing1647
contrusiona1691
coercion1830
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Pressement, a pressing, squeezing, thrusting..together. Pressoirée, a pressing, straining, squeezing out.
1648 Bp. J. Wilkins Math. Magick i. ix. 57 It is chiefly applied to the squeezing or pressing of things downewards.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 59 The reason..for this coming down, is the squeezing of the several parts in the Press.
1730 N. Bailey et al. Dictionarium Britannicum at Ecpiesmus A straining, wringing, or squeezing out.
1800 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 4 330 The oppression and squeezing of the chest he felt during the greater part of the night.
1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect i. ii. 177 That the squeezing or pinching of a nerve can produce sensibility is proved in many experiments.
1884 Queen Victoria More Leaves 317 There was a great crowding and squeezing, and some children screamed with fright.
b. That which is squeezed out.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > pressing, pressure, or squeezing > [noun] > pressing to extract something > that which is extracted
straining1566
strainc1616
squeezing1681
1681 J. Oldham Satyrs upon Jesuits 25 Heavens just pow'r thought fit, To scourge this later and more sinful age With all the dregs and squeesings of his rage.
a1719 J. Addison tr. Virgil Fourth Georgic iv, in Wks. (1721) I. 23 His Bees first swarm'd, and made his vessels foam With the rich squeezing of the juicy comb.
2. The action of oppressing by exactions or extortion; the practice of extorting excessive or illicit gain.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > extortion > [noun]
extortionc1340
askingc1400
extort power1492
exactiona1513
bribing1533
extort1541
pollage?1542
bloodsucking1548
scaffery1555
eviction1560
wringing1589
wresting1611
screwing1680
squeezing1681
extortinga1711
wringing1730
over-pull1867
Rachmanism1963
Rachmanship1963
1681 R. L'Estrange tr. Cicero Offices (ed. 2) 147 Publique Cheats, Oppressions, Squeezing of the people.
1693 Humours & Conversat. Town 32 Being better acquainted with the squeezing and harassing of their tenants.
1695 J. Collier Misc. upon Moral Subj. 69 Let their be nothing said against..Spinning out of Causes, Squeezing of Clients.
a1777 S. Foote Devil upon Two Sticks (1778) i. 18 He only suggested their cent. per cent. squeezings, and prompted the various modes of extortion and rapine.
1864 Athenæum No. 1923. 297/2 The squeezing, or black mail,..of the mandarins.
1892 Daily News 26 Oct. 5/7 From the highest official to the lowest all practise a system of unblushing robbery, called ‘squeezing’.
Compounds
C1. attributive, as squeezing action, squeezing noise, squeezing process.
ΚΠ
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xxxiii. 283 We could hear a squeezing noise among the ice-fields.
1868 Rep. Munitions War 285 Close the breech by a squeezing action.
1900 Daily News 24 Sept. 2/2 Now I hope the squeezing process has come to an end.
C2. † squeezing watch n. Obsolete ? a repeating watch operated by pressing the mechanism.
squeezing-box n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. III. 2295/2 Squeezing-box, a metallic cylinder having a hole in the bottom, through which clay is pressed for shaping the handles, etc., of earthenware.
ΚΠ
1708 Brit. Apollo 21–26 May Lost..a Gold Squeezing-watch, with a Gold Chain to it.
1708 Brit. Apollo 25–30 June Lost.., a Gold Sweezing Watch.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
squeezingadj.
That squeezes, in various senses; also, indicative of effort.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > pressing, pressure, or squeezing > [adjective]
squizing1565
coercive1650
retortive1651
enforcinga1657
squeezinga1687
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > [adjective] > indicative of effort
squeezinga1687
a1687 Duke of Buckingham Poems (1775) 144 His squeezing looks, his pangs of wit accuse, The very symptoms of a breeding muse.
?1720 Wonderful Wonder 1 He has the Reputation to be a close, griping, squeezing Fellow.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 133 The squeezing rollers or squeezers, for discharging the greater part of the water from the yarns and goods in the process of bleaching.
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. xxxix. 358 I heard the blowing of a narwhal, followed by the peculiar swash of squeezing ice.
1897 Westm. Gaz. 15 Feb. 3 Would she..remain fixed to be crushed by the squeezing masses?
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.1611adj.a1687