English
gristbite
Gristbite comes from Old English gristbitian ‘to gnash or grind the teeth’.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150gristbitian‘to gnash or grind the teeth’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500grisbaten
- Englishearliest quotation 1866gristbite
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150gristbitian‘to gnash or grind the teeth’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500grisbaten
- Englishearliest quotation 1866gristbite
Earliest quotation: 1866, George Walter Thornbury: “Mrs. Tolpedden achieved a dashing cannon, and then gave…”
Every English word from Old English gristbitian
Today it means
verb To gnash one's teeth.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English gristbitian / gristbite