Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also ease down) to consume.

1909		H. Green Mr. Jackson 51: Then he eased in a few drinks.
1996		J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers 108: ‘So, anyway we had a couple and eased ’em down with some rum chasers and ended up pretty shickered.’.

2. to move quietly.

1927		D. Hammett ‘$106,000 Blood Money’ Story Omnibus (1966) 348: Jack Counihan is trying to ease inside now.
1931–4		D. Clemmer Prison Community (1940) 331/2: ease, vi. To enter cautiously, ‘to ease in.’.
1937		P. Cheyney Dames Don’t Care (1960) 16: I shut the window behind me an’ start easin’ across the floor.
1944		D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 65: I eases in and cops a squat on the soft-top near the wall.
1965		B. Jackson Get Your Ass in the Water (1974) 47: A pimp eased up and turned out the lights.
1972		Smith & Gay Heroin in Perspective 201: Ease on in. Move slowly, so no one knows what you’re doing.

3. to leave, esp. quietly and discreetly; usu. in phr. ease out.

1939		P. Cheyney Don’t Get Me Wrong (1956) 33: I ease away in the direction behind the house.
1946		Mezzrow & Wolfe Really the Blues 166: We eased out and sat down on the rickety little porch.
1969		‘Iceberg Slim’ Pimp 49: The only thing I said before I eased out of there was, ‘Yes Sir, Boss Man’.
1972		Smith & Gay Heroin in Perspective 201: Ease off. Get through the door.
1981		Eble Campus Sl. Mar. 3: ease – leave, go: ‘Let’s ease’.
1991		J.B. Holway Josh & Satch 199: [W]hen Paige began to spin his tales in the dugout, Larry would ‘ease’ away.
2000		W.D. Myers ‘The Baddest Dog in Harlem’ in 145th Street 19: ‘Anybody here know anything about it? [i.e. a gun] ’ We all said no and then the cop eased out.

4. to get rid of, to leave behind.

1960		C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 38: Let’s ease this punk.
1975		E. Torres Carlito’s Way 27: When things are ripe, ease him out to pasture.

5. to move, to travel.

1927		H.C. Witwer Classics in Sl. 68: When this kid found out that the Capulet racket was a mask affair, him and a couple of pals named Benvolio and Mercutio, rents costumes and eases into the house without nobody tumblin’ to who they was.
1937		P. Cheyney Dames Don’t Care (1960) 89: I go outside an’ start up the car, an’ ease off towards Palm Springs.
1979		‘Iceberg Slim’ Airtight Willie and Me 33: Every pimp and ’ho in town will ease in here before daybreak.