English Explanatory Dictionary

gristle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Cartilage; now especially: cartilage present, as a tough substance, in meat.
  2. Bone not yet hardened by age and hard work.

Pronunciation

/ˈɡɹɪsəl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-gristle.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-gristle.wav

Word forms

gristle gristles

Etymology

From Middle English gristel, grystyl, from Old English gristel (“gristle, cartilage”), Proto-West Germanic *gristl, of obscure origin; possibly from a pre-Germanic substrate language. Seemingly equivalent to a diminutive of Old English grist (“a grinding”), equivalent to modern English grist + -le; possibly related to Proto-Germanic *gredaną (“to crunch”). Cognate with Old Frisian gristel, gerstel (“gristle, cartilage”), Middle Low German gristel (“gristle”).

Related words

grizzle

Derived words

gristled gristlehead gristleless gristliness gristly in the gristle
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