oiler

the word "oiler" is a transparent compound formed within english by combining the noun "oil" with the agentive suffix "-er". the root "oil" has a long journey, entering old english from latin and greek, where it specifically referred to olive oil before broadening to any viscous, flammable liquid. the suffix "-er" is a prolific germanic agent-noun formative. therefore, an "oiler" literally means "a thing or person that deals with oil," a logic perfectly preserved in its modern meanings for a worker, a ship, or a device. the informal sense of a flatterer plays on the idea of "oiling" or smoothing social interactions.

Structure: oil (slippery liquid) + er (agent suffix) oil (from old english "ol", "ele", from latin "oleum" (olive oil, oil), from greek "elaion" (olive oil), ultimately from a proto-indo-european root for "oil, fat"). er (agentive suffix from old english "-ere", from proto-germanic "-ārijaz", borrowed from latin "-ārius", indicating a person or thing that performs an action).