[? f. prec. Cf. SQUILGEE sb.]
1. A scraping implement, usually consisting of a straight-edged blade of india-rubber, gutta-percha, or the like, attached to the end of a long handle, for removing water, mud, etc.
1844. Mrs. Houston, Yacht Voy. Texas, I. 39. Holy-stoning the decks … is the worst description of nervous torture of which I ever heard, excepting perhaps, the infliction of the squee gee.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 648. Squeegee, an effective swabbing instrument, having a plate of gutta-percha fitted at the end of a broom handle.
1884. Law Times Rep., L. 635/2. They had swept mud in a state of batter to the side of a road by means of ‘squeegees.’
2. Photogr. A strip of rubber mounted on a wooden frame which serves as a handle, for squeezing moisture from a print, pressing a film closer to its mount, etc.; a rubber roller serving this purpose; a squeezer.
1878. Abney, Photogr., 170. The plate is then placed on a small low stool … and the excess of water squeezed out by means of a squeegee.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 57. Use a Roller Squeegee.—After the print is applied to the mount,… gently roll the squeegee over it.
