English
grubwork
From grub + -work.
Formed from grub + -work
Proto-Indo-European *gʰrebʰ-
Proto-Germanic *grubb-
Proto-West Germanic *grubb-
Old English *grubbian
Middle English grubben
English grub
Today it means
noun Tedious digging or (figurative) research.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / grubwork