grease monkey

First use appears c. 1910 in a translated work. See cite below. May have originated during the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain, when children were used to grease the large rotating axles which were used to transfer power from one centralized steam engine to all of the machines on the factory floor. These children, covered in grease and crawling in the tight spaces in the ceilings, were equated with monkeys.

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

grease monkey (plural grease monkeys)

1. (idiomatic, slang) A mechanic, often with the specific connotation of an automobile mechanic.
   • 1910, Antonin Gilbert Sertillanges, Jeanne d'Arc et l'Union française - discours prononcé à Notre-Dame le 8 Mai 1910 en la première fête liturgique de la Bienheureuse Jeanne d'Arc, page 10:

     If you appear like a tramp or grease-monkey how can you expect to meet the people who are able to support your business.

   • 1918, Motor World Publishing Company (publisher), Motor World for Jobbers, Dealers and Garagemen - Volume 55, page 29:

     Maybe some other "grease monkey," as I call mechanics, will correct me.

   • 1920, International Union of Elevator Constructors (publisher), The Elevator Constructor - Volume 17, page 30:

     Brother W.M. Hillery resigned from his job as grease monkey and is working for Armour and Company, but as we understand he is just itching to get with the old bunch.

• greaser
• powder monkey
• rigging monkey
• code monkey
• oil trash
• shade tree mechanic