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 1819. Macaulay, Hist. England. The vulgar proverb, that the grey mare is the better horse, originated, I suspect, in the preference generally given to the grey mares of Flanders over the finest coach horses of England.

1883. G. A. S[ala], in Illustr. London News, 14 Apr., p. 359, c. 2. She [Mrs. Romford], did not over-accentuate either her strong-mindedness or her jealousy of her flighty husband; but she let him and the audience unmistakably know that she was in all respects the grey mare in the Romford stable.

Gray-parson (or Gray-coat parson, subs. (old).—A lay impropriator, or lessee of tithes.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, grey parson, s.v. A farmer who rents the tythes of the rector or vicar.

1830 in Cobbett's Rural Rides, vol. I., p. 123 note (ed. 1886). The late editor says, that, having been a large holder of lay tithes, the author applied to Mr. Nicholls, the name of the grey-coated parson.

Grease, subs. (common).—1. A bribe; palm-oil (or -grease). (q.v. for synonyms). In America Boodle (q.v.). greasing = bribing.

1823. Bee, Dict. of Turf, s.v. A bonus given to promote the cause of anyone.

2. (printers').—Well-paid work; fat (q.v.).

3. (common.—Fawning; flattery (a figurative use of sense 1).

Verb (old).—1. To bribe; to corrupt by presents; to tip (q.v.). Also more fully to grease in the fist, hand, or palm. Fr., coquer la boucanade. For synonyms, see Square.

1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. 68, pt. 2, p. 159 (E.D.S.). How husbandrie easeth, to huswiferie pleaseth, And manie purse greaseth With silver and gold.

1578. Whetstone, Promoss and Cassandra, ii., 3. Grease them well in their hands.

1592. Greene, Quip in wks., xi., 261 That did you not grease the sealers of Leaden Hall throughly in the fist, they should never be sealed, but turned away and made forfiet by the statute.

1619. Fletcher, Wild Goose Chase. Am I greased once again?

1649. F. Quarles, Virgin Widow, IV., i., p. 40. Greaze my fist with a Tester or two, and ye shall find it in your penny-worths.

1678. C. Cotton, Scarronides, Bk. IV., p. 70 (ed. 1725). Him she conjures, intreats, and prays, With all the Cunning that she has, greases his Fist; nay more, engages Thenceforth to mend his Quarters-wages.

1693. Dryden, Persius, iii., 139. And after, envy not the store Of the greas'd advocate, that grinds the poor.

1698-1700. Ward, London Spy, pt. xv., p. 364. But the Gay Curteyan who trades for gold, That can but grease a palm when she's in hold, No Justice need she dread.

1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1878. Jas. Payn, By Proxy, ch. x. His Excellency, your master, has given orders, I presume, that after I have made my compliments—as delicate a phrase as he could think of for greasing the hands of justice—I shall be at liberty to visit my friend.

1879. Horsley, in Macmillan's Magazine, Oct. When I went to the fence he bested (cheated) me because I was drunk, and only gave me £8 10s. for the lot. So the next day I went to him and asked him if he was not going to grease my duke (put money into my hand).

1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 2 Sept., p. 7, c. 2. Did other people having business with the printing bureau tell you that it would be necessary to grease Sénécal?

2. (common).—To fawn; to flatter. Formerly, to grease one's boots.

1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes. Onger i stivali, to grease ones bootes, id est, to flatter or cog with, to faune vpon one.

3. (old).—To gull; to cheat; to do.