Grist

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɡɹɪst/
• Rhymes: -ɪst

Origin

From Middle English grist, gryst, from Old English grist, gyrst ("the action of grinding, corn for grinding, gnashing"), from a derivative of Proto-Germanic *gredaną ("to crunch"), from Proto-Indo-European *ghrēu- ("to rub, grind"). Cognate with Old Saxon gristgrimmo ("gnashing of the teeth"), German Griesgram ("a grumbler, a grouch, peevishness, misery"), Old English gristel ("gristle"). More at gristle.

Full definition of grist

Noun

1. Grain that is to be ground in a mill.
• 2013, Henry Petroski, Geothermal Energy, Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.
2. (obsolete) A group of bees.
3. (colloquial, obsolete) Supply; provision.
4. (ropemaking) A given size of rope, common grist being a rope three inches in circumference, with twenty yarns in each of the three strands.

Derived terms

• grist mill
  gristmill
• it's all grist to the mill

Anagrams

• girts
• grits, Grits