grumble

Meanings

1. A high thundering, rumbling or growling sound.
2. The sound made by a hungry stomach.
3. A surly complaint.

1. To make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals.
2. To complain; to murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner.
3. To utter in a grumbling fashion.

Etymology

Probably from Middle French grommeler, from Old French grumeler (“to murmur, grumble”), from Middle Dutch *grommelen ("to murmur, mutter, grunt"; > Modern Dutch grommelen (“to grumble”)), frequentative of Middle Dutch grommen (“to growl, grunt”). Cognate with Middle Low German grummelen (> Low German grummeln (“to grumble”)), German grummeln (“to grumble”), Norwegian dialectal grymja (“to growl, grunt”).