lubricating oil; oiling a machine
Refers both to the oil used for lubrication and the action of applying it, especially to machinery or moving parts.
I oiled the sewing machine.
The bicycle chain needs lubricating oil.
Standard kanji spelling for lubricating oil or the act of oiling.
Variant with kana for the first element; less common but still seen.
Compound of 差し (sashi, the continuative form of 差す 'to insert, apply') and 油 (abura, 'oil'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word transparently means 'applying oil' or 'oil for application'.