Oiling

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of applying a lubricant to surfaces to decrease friction between moving parts
2. The act of spreading or coating a surface with oil to ensure smoother movement and lessen wear
3. A procedure involving the use of oil to minimize resistance and protect mechanical components

Etymology: The verb "to oil" comes from the noun, and the noun has a long journey behind it. It passed from ancient Greek "élaion," meaning olive oil, into Latin as "oleum," and from there into Old French as "oile." English borrowed that French form in the Middle English period, with the sense still centred on olive oil, before the general meaning of any fatty or viscous liquid took over. The verb grew out of the noun in English, so "oiling" simply carries the noun's history into action: applying the substance to a surface. Ancient Greek "élaía," the olive tree, sits at the root of the whole chain, so every time a machine is oiled, the word still points back to the olive.

Synonyms: greasing, lubricating, smoothing