figurative. To ply with money, to bribe; also, †to enrich; originally in phrases to grease (a person's) hand (also palm), †to grease (a person) in…

to anoint a person's hand (or palm, fist, etc.) and variants: to bribe or tip someone. Frequently with with. Cf. grease, v. 4b oil, v. 5a. Obsolete.

intransitive. To use or apply bribes; to practise bribery.

intransitive. (a) To divulge a secret, turn informer, ‘peach’. (b) (See quot. 1725.)

humorous. to mollify the fist: to bribe. Cf. to grease (a person's) hand (also palm) at grease, v. 4b. Obsolete.

intransitive. To offer, accept, or spend money illegally or improperly, esp. in connection with the obtaining or holding of public office; to offer…

figurative and in figurative contexts. transitive. colloquial. to oil a person's palm (also †fist, hand): to give a bribe or gratuity to someone…