grist

Meaning

Noun

• Grain that is to be ground in a mill.
• A group of bees.
• Supply; provision.
• A given size of rope, common grist being a rope three inches in circumference, with twenty yarns in each of the three strands.

Origin

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