sb. [Irreg. f. G. wasser water + Gr. ἔλ-αιον oil + -INE.] A soft, greasy substance used as an ointment or lubricant, obtained by evaporating petroleum and passing the residuum through animal charcoal. (Cf. PETROLATUM.)
A proprietary term, introduced by R. A. Chesebrough in 1872.
1874. Eng. Mech., 25 Sept., 36. A new petroleum product has been introduced into the trade under the name of vaseline.
1876. Trans. Clinical Soc., IX. 171. Applied vaseline to his head whenever the cap was off.
1884. Pop. Sci. Monthly, XXIV. 778. Palm oil and vaseline was sold for lubricating machinery.
Hence Vaseline v. trans., to lubricate, rub or anoint with vaseline.
1885. McPherson (KS) Weekly Press, 4 March, 1/4.
| I have let it [his mustache] grow for six months—yes, more; | |
| And e’en then it can hardly be seen. | |
| I have watered it, vaselined it, trimmed it with care, | |
| Yet still it remains naked and lean. |
1891. Bicycling News, April, 117. My machine is all vaselined and put away.
1898. Westm. Gaz., 19 Dec., 2/1. A gentle hand had washed and vaselined and bandaged the … little heels.
