squeegee
SKWEE-jee
/ˈskwiːdʒiː/
A tool with a flat, smooth rubber blade used to wipe away liquid or clean glass surfaces.
At gas stations, it is typically paired with a sponge bucket near the pumps for windshield cleaning.
The story behind the word. Coined in the 19th century as a nautical term for a rubber-bladed scraping tool used to clear water off wooden ship decks. It was adapted from 'squeeze' due to the action of pressing water out.
Word relationships
- scraper: A scraper is a rigid tool used to remove hard material like ice, whereas a squeegee has a flexible rubber blade to clear liquids.
Commonly confused with
- sponge: A sponge absorbs liquid inside porous material, whereas a squeegee scrapes liquid off a non-porous surface.
Collocations
- windshield squeegee
- rubber squeegee
- use a squeegee
- squeegee the glass
Example sentences
- "While the tank was filling, he grabbed the squeegee from the bucket to clean the bug splatters off his windshield." Windshield cleaning
- "Squeegee the glass firmly from top to bottom to prevent streaking water spots." Car care
Memory hook
It makes a 'SKWEE' sound as you squeeze water across glass. SKWEE-gee = Squeeze liquid off glass.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a rag or cloth; a squeegee specifically features a stiff rubber scraping edge.
Fun facts
- Professional window cleaners at skyscrapers use specialized brass squeegees capable of cleaning large panes in a single fluid motion.
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