The word 'squeeze' emerged in English in the early 16th century, its form and meaning likely shaped by onomatopoeic or expressive creation, imitating the sound or sensation of applying pressure. It is part of a family of expressive 'sq-' words in English, such as 'squash', 'squelch', and 'squirm', which often convey notions of compression, crushing, or contortion. While its exact pre-English lineage is obscure, it effectively captures a physical action through its phonetics, with the initial 'sq-' cluster suggesting force and the long 'ee' and final 'z' sound mimicking the sustained pressing action. Over time, its meaning expanded metaphorically to describe extracting information, experiencing financial pressure, or forcing through a tight space.

The word is a simplex form. It is likely of imitative origin, possibly related to or influenced by obsolete English words like 'quease' (to squeeze) and 'squash'. Its functional role is as a complete lexical root.