grit

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“
"Either way, you can always look back with satisfaction on your record as a fighting man, for your grit is all of the right kind Much obliged to you, sir, for saying that," replied the young sailor.

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Definitions (42)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (7)

  1. noun Minute rough granules, as of sand or stone.
  2. noun The texture or fineness of sand or stone used in grinding.
  3. noun A coarse hard sandstone used for making grindstones and millstones.
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Examples (50)

  • Showing her grit, her moxie, and her adorable little fishnet-covered voiceover boxes, Giovanni Zatara's favorite daughter manages to save Vixen's life through physical intercession, a rarity for her. —  Major Spoilers
  • "I think the grit is just something that naturally rises up to the top when you're an athlete, and [when] you hit the playoffs, the elevation of your game and the mentality just changes, and I think the grit goes along with it." —  Bruins Top Stories
  • Sizes available: 2 to 15 with half sizes. dave-grit, 2008-12-25
  • Burke had said his short-term plan for the Leafs was to get some grit, and in this move he gets his grit along with a familiar face. —  MVN
  • "I was amazed to see their grit, their determination, and how they are contributing magnificently to processes of wealth creation in these countries," he added. —  dailyindia.com News Feed
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Etymologies (5)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English gret, sand, from Old English grēot.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (4)

  1. Usually in plural, from Middle English *grytte, *grutte (in deriv. grutten, adjective: see gritten), from Anglo-Saxon grytt, usually in plural grytta, grytte (also spelled gritta, gretta), and gryttan, flour, bran (Latin pollis and furfur), = Dutch grutte, grut, grits, groats, = Old High German gruzzi, bran, grits (later Italian gruzzo, a heap, pile), Middle High German G. grütze, grits, groats, = Icelandic grautr, porridge, = Norwegian graut, porridge, = Swedish gröt, thick pap, = Danish gröd, boiled groats; derived, with orig. suffix -ja, from Anglo-Saxon grūt, English grout, q. v.; a different word from Anglo-Saxon greót, English grit, with which, however, it is closely allied; different also from groats, q. v.
  2. A later form, with shortened vowel (prob. to suit the allied grit, meal), of earlier greet; from Middle English greet, gret, greot, from Anglo-Saxon greót, sand, dust, earth, = Old Saxon griot = OFries. gret, sand, = Old High German grioz, sand, gravel, Middle High German griez, sand, gravel (comp. griez-mel, coarse meal), German griess, gries, coarse sand, gravel, grit, also grits, groats, = Icelandic grjōt, collectively, stones, rough stones, rubble; akin to Anglo-Saxon grot, ME, grot, a particle, small piece. Grit is allied to, and in modern use partly confused with, grit: see grit, grout, grout.
  3. from grit, sand, etc. Not connected with grate.
  4. Origin uncertain.
 

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/grɪt/
by American Heritage
by Amy Gonzalez
by Amy Gonzalez

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