[f. SQUEEZE v.]
1. The action of pressing or compressing; the fact of being compressed. Also with out.
1611. Cotgr., Pressement, a pressing, squeezing, thrusting … together. Pressoirée, a pressing, straining, squeezing out.
1648. Wilkins, Math. Mag., I. ix. 57. It is chiefly applied to the squeezing or pressing of things downewards.
1683. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xi. ¶ 1. The reason … for this coming down, is the squeezing of the several parts in the Press.
1730. Bailey (fol.), Ecpiesmus, a straining, wringing, or squeezing out.
1800. Med. Jrnl., IV. 330. The oppression and squeezing of the chest he felt during the greater part of the night.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., II. ii. § 5. That the squeezing or pinching of a nerve can produce sensibility is proved in many experiments.
1884. Q. Victoria, More Leaves, 317. There was a great crowding and squeezing, and some children screamed with fright.
fig. a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Squeezing of Wax, being bound for any Body; also sealing of Writings.
b. That which is squeezed out.
a. 1683. Oldham, Wks. & Rem. (1686), 25. Heavens just pow’r thought fit To scourge this latter, and more sinful age With all the dregs, and squeesings of his rage.
a. 1719. Addison, trans. Virg. Georg., iv. 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.
1681. R. L’Estrange, Tully’s Offices, 147. Publique Cheats, Oppressions, Squeezing of the people.
1693. Humours Town, 32. Being better acquainted with the squeezing and harassing of their tenants.
1697. J. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. (1709), 74. Let there nothing be said against … Spinning out of Causes, Squeesing of Clients.
1768. Foote, Devil, I. Wks. 1799, II. 252. 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.’
3. attrib., as squeezing action, noise, process; squeezing-box (see quot. 1875); † squeezing watch, ? a repeating watch operated by pressing the mechanism.
1708. Brit. Apollo, No. 30. 4/2. Lost … a Gold Squeezing-watch, with a Gold Chain to it. Ibid., No. 40. 4/2. Lost…, a Gold Sweezing Watch.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exped., xxxiii. (1856), 283. We could hear a squeezing noise among the ice-fields.
1868. Rep. to Govt. U.S. Munitions War, 285. Close the breech by a squeezing action.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 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.
1900. Daily News, 24 Sept., 2/2. Now I hope the squeezing process has come to an end.
