Origin and history of squeeze

c. 1600, "press forcibly" (transitive), perhaps an alteration of quease (Middle English quisen), from Old English cwysan "to squeeze," a word of unknown origin, perhaps imitative (compare German quetschen "to squeeze"). It perhaps also has been altered by influence of many words of similar sound and related sense (squash, squat, squish, squirt, squelch).

The meaning "produce or procure by application of pressure" is by 1650s. The intransitive sense of "press, push, or force one's way into or through" is attested from 1680s. The baseball squeeze play "sacrifice bunt to score a runner from third" is so called by 1905. The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue has squeeze-crab "A sour-looking, shrivelled, diminutive fellow."

1610s, "act of squeezing," from squeeze (v.). Main squeeze "most important person" is attested from 1896; meaning "one's sweetheart, lover" is attested by 1980. The slang expression put the squeeze on (someone or something) "exert influence on" is by 1902; squeeze (n.) figuratively as "pressure or influence exerted" is by 1711.