• GRICE
n. ME obs. exc. dial. – a set or flight of stairs; a step, a stair
• GRIDDLE CAKE
n. 1810 Amer. dial. – a pancake
• GRIEVEMENT
n. 1708 obs. nonce word – a hurt, injury
• GRIFF
n. 1891 Brit. sl. – a tip or piece of news or reliable information
• GRIFFA
n. 1960s African-American sl. – a marijuana cigarette
• GRIFFANE
n. 1840 Amer. dial. – the offspring of a mulatto and a Black person; a mulatto
• GRIFFE
n. 1840 Amer. dial. – the offspring of a full-blooded African and a mulatto; the child of White and Black parents; the offspring of two mulattoes
• GRIFFIN
n. 1. 1859 Amer. dial. – the offspring of a mulatto and a Black person; a mulatto
n. 2. 1889 sl. – a signal
n. 3. 1891 Brit. sl. – a tip, as in racing, etc
n. 4. Bk1892 Anglo-Indian sl .- a greenhorn; a newcomer
n. 5. Bk1892 Anglo-Chinese – a person resident in China under three years
n. 6. Bk1892 Anglo-Chinese – a horse fresh from the wilds
• GRIFF-METOL
n. Bk1903 sl. – sixpence
• GRIFT
n. 1914 US sl. – dishonest or corrupt activity
vb. 1915 US sl. – to act dishonestly or corruptly
• GRIFTER
n. 1915 US sl. – a small-time criminal
• GRIG
n. 1. Bk1903 sl. – a farthing (1/4d)
n. 2. 1939 Amer. dial. – a cricket
• GRIGGLES
n. 1827 Eng. dial. – small apples remaining on the tree after the crop has been gathered in; small, worthless fruit, vegetables, etc., left after gathering
• GRILL
n. 1. 1940s African-American sl. – the stomach
n. 2. 1957 Aust. sl., derogatory – a person from southern Europe
• GRILL CAKE
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – a pancake
• GRIM
adj. 1984 sl. – ill
• GRIMALKIN
n. 1. 1630 – a cat, especially an old female cat
n. 2. 1798 – a term of contempt for a jealous or bossy or bad-tempered, unpleasant old woman
• GRIMFUL
adj. ME rare – fierce, terrible
• GRIMGRIBBER
n. 1. 1786 – legal or other technical jargon; learned gibberish
n. 2. B1900 – a lawyer
• GRIMSIR
n. c1450 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – an austere, stern, morose, or overbearing person; a grim old man; a haughty or arrogant person in office
• GRIMTHORPE
vb. 1892 – to restore an ancient building with lavish expenditure rather than knowledge and fine taste
• GRINAGOG
n. 1565 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – a stupid, grinning fellow; one who grins without reason or who is always grinning
• GRINCH
n. L20 N. Amer. colloq. – a spoilsport or killjoy
• GRIND
n. 1. 1851 Brit. sl. orig. university usage – a long and boring task
n. 2. a1889 US college sl. – a hard-working pupil
n. 3. M19 university sl. – a walk taken for exercise
n. 4. M19 sl. – intensive study or tuition for an examination, etc.
n. 5. L19 Cambridge University sl. – a ferry
n. 6. L19 sl. – an act of sexual intercourse; sexual intercourse
vb. M19 arch. – to study hard with a tutor
• GRINDER
n. 1. LME – a molar tooth
n. 2. Bk1892 Aust. sl. – a small coin of money
n. 3. E19 rare – a person who works for another
n. 4. M19 – an employer of sweated labour
n. 5. M19 sl. – a derisive gesture made by putting the thumb to the nose and working the little finger like the handle of a coffee mill
n. 6. 1904 Amer. dial. – a frog
n. 7. Bk1942 Amer. college sl. – a diligent student
n. 8. 1954 Amer. dial. – a submarine sandwich
• GRINDERS
n. LME – the teeth
• GRIND HOUSE
n. 20C US sl. – a cinema showing a continuous programme with no intermissions
• GRINDING
adj. L16 – of pain: excruciating, wearing
• GRINDING GEAR
n. 1970s sl. – the penis
• GRINDING GRAVEL
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – snoring
• GRINDING-HOUSE
n. 1. 17C sl. – a house of correction
n. 2. 19C sl. – a brothel
• GRINDING MILL
n. 1930s African-American sl. – the vagina
• GRINDING ROCK
n. 1913 Amer. dial. – a grindstone
• GRINDING SMOKE
phr. 1946 Amer. dial. – an evasive answer given a child who inquisitively asks what one is doing
• GRINDING TOOL
n. 19C sl. – the penis
• GRINDLE
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – a horse of mixed colours
• GRINDLESTONE
n. 1899 Amer. dial. – a grindstone
• GRIND ONE’S OWN BAIT
vb. 1909 Amer. dial. – to do as one pleases; to be independent
• GRIND ONE’S TOOL
vb. 19C sl. – to copulate
• GRIND-ORGAN
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a machine gun
• GRIND ROCK
n. 1895 Amer. dial. – a grindstone
• GRIND SALT
vb. 1888 Amer. dial. – to circle around, as a hawk or vulture circling aloft
• GRIND SOMEONE’S COFFEE
vb. 1928 US sl. – to copulate with someone
• GRINDSTONE
n. Bk1942 Amer. college sl. – a diligent student
• GRINDSTONES
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – the teeth
• GRINGLY
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – producing a disagreeable or disgusting sensation
• GRINGO
n. 1849 sl. – used contemptuously by Spanish-Americans to refer to English people of Anglo-Americans
• GRIN LIKE A STREET KNOCKER
vb. 1830s colloq. – to grin like a Cheshire cat; to have a broad fixed smile on one’s face
• GRINNIE
n. 1. 1928 Amer. dial. – a ground squirrel
n. 2. 1949 Amer. dial. – a chipmunk
n. 3. 1967 Amer. dial. – a red fox
• GRINSHEEP
n. 1906 Amer. dial. – a person who grins sheepishly
• GRIP
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – a sudden pain that comes in the side
• GRIPE
n. 1. 1929 sl., orig. US – a complaint
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an unattractive person
n. 3. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – something unattractive
vb. 1928 sl., orig. US – to complain
• GRIPE-PENNY
n. 1860 obs. – a niggardly fellow, a miser
• GRIPER
n. 1937 sl., orig. US – a complainer
• GRIPES
n. 1601 sl. – stomach pain
• GRIP ONE’S OWN ROPE
vb. 1917 Sc. – to rely on one’s own resources; to be independent of outside help
• GRIPPLE-MINDED
adj. a1632 obs. – of a miserly, greedy, or grasping disposition
• GRIPPY
adj. 19C Sc. – grasping, avaricious
• GRIPULOUS
adj. 1614 obs. – grasping, greedy, avaricious
• GRIS-GRIS
n. 1. 1763 Amer. dial. – a jinx, charm, spell, or magic force
n. 2. 1967 Amer. dial. – the body of knowledge, system, or practice of magic or conjuration; a medium of luck
vb. 1923 Amer. dial. – to make a spell, usually by the waving of hands; to bring bad luck to; to bewitch
• GRIST
n. 1832 Amer. dial. – a large number or quantity
• GRIT
n. 1. Bk1905 Amer. sl. – courage
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – a rustic or countrified person; a hillbilly
• GRITCHEL
n. 1917 Amer. dial. – a piece of hand luggage; a travelling bag, a suitcase
• GRITLESS
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – cowardly
• GRITS
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a rustic or countrified person; a hillbilly
• GRITTY
adj. Bk1905 Amer. sl. – courageously determined or persevering, courageous
• GRIZZLEDEMUNDY
n. 1818 Eng. dial. – a term of abuse applied to a person who laughs at any trifling thing; a grinning fool; a stupid oaf
• GRIZZLE-POT
n. 1. B1900 sl. – a sulky child, one who is constantly whimpering or whining
n. 2. B1900 sl. – an ill-tempered or melancholy person
• GRIZZLY BEAR STATE
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – California
• GROADY
adj. 1965 US sl. – disgusting
• GROATY
adj. 1965 US sl. – disgusting
• GROAK
n. 1892 Sc. & Irish – a child who waits about at meal-times in the expectation of getting something to eat
vb. 1. B1900 Sc. – to look at one watchfully and suspiciously
vb. 2. 1894 Sc. – to whimper, to cry for anything
• GROANER
n. 1903 Amer. dial. – a whistling buoy or foghorn
• GROAT
n. Bk1903 sl. – fourpence
• GROBIAN
adj. 1654 – slovenly, ill-bred, rude, coarse
n. 1621 – a slovenly, ill-bred or coarse fellow; a rude lout, a boor
• GROCERY
n. Bk1903 sl. – money
• GRODDY
adj. 1965 US sl. – disgusting
• GRODY
adj. 1965 US sl. – disgusting
• GRODY TO THE MAX
adj. 1965 US sl. – disgusting
• GROG
n. 1804 sl. – alcohol; often applied specifically to beer
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to intoxicate; to make dead drunk
• GROG BLOSSOM
n. 1796 sl. – redness of the nose caused by excessive drinking
• GROGGY
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – bewildered; confused; muddled
• GROGHOUND
n. 20C US sl. – a drunkard
• GROG UP
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to intoxicate; to make dead drunk
• GROIN
n. 1. E17 euphemism – the seat of lust
n. 2. 1931 sl., chiefly criminals’ usage – a ring (jewellery)
n. 3. M20 US euphemism – the male genital area; the testicles
• GROISE
n. 1. 1913 Brit. schools’ sl. – intensive study
n. 2. 1913 Brit. public schools’ sl. – a hard-working pupil
vb. 1913 Brit. schools’ sl. – to study hard
• GROISER
n. 1936 Brit. public schools’ sl. – a hard-working pupil
• GROIZE
n. 1. 1913 Brit. schools’ sl. – intensive study
n. 2. 1913 Brit. public schools’ sl. – a hard-working pupil
vb. 1913 Brit. schools’ sl. – to study hard
• GROIZER
n. 1936 Brit. public schools’ sl. – a hard-working pupil
• GROLL
n. 1637 obs. – a foolish or superficial person; a gossip, a smatterer
• GROMMET
n. M19 nautical sl. – the female pudend
• GRONK
n. M20 US sl. – dirt which collects between the toes; also, any dirt
• GROOM OF THE LADDER
n. a1640 obs. – a hangman
• GROOVE
n. 1. 1946 sl., orig. US jazz usage – one who pleases or delights; something enjoyable
n. 2. 1960s Amer. sl. – a phonograph record
n. 3. 1960s Amer. sl. – a something that you find satisfying or fun
vb. 1. 1950 sl., orig. US – to enjoy oneself; to have fun
vb. 2. 1952 sl., orig. US jazz sl. – to please, to delight
vb. 3. 1967 sl. – to play amorously
• GROOVED
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – having a surface bullet wound
• GROOVE IT
vb. 1950 sl., orig. US – to enjoy oneself; to have fun
• GROOVE YARD
n. 1960s Amer. sl. – a record store
• GROOVIN’
n. 1960s Amer. sl. – enjoying something
• GROOVY
adj. 1941 sl., orig. US – excellent
• GROOZLE
vb. 1. B1900 Sc. – to breathe with difficulty: generally applied to children
vb. 2. B1900 Sc. – to speak huskily
• GROPE
n. 1946 sl. – an instance of groping someone; hence, foreplay involving manual genital stimulation
vb. c1250 sl. – to fondle or attempt to fondle a person’s genitals or a woman’s breasts
• GROPER
n. 1899 Aust. sl. – a Western Australian, esp. a (descendant of an) early settler
• GROPUS
n. 1. B1900 Sc. – a stupid person
n. 2. B1900 sl. – a coat-pocket
• GROSS
adj. 1. 1833 US Military Academy usage – clumsy or awkward in drill; stupid
adj. 2. 1959 student sl. – disgusting, sickening; hence, unpleasant, unfortunate; displeasing, nasty
• GROSSED
adj. 1968 Amer. student sl. – disgusted
• GROSSED-OUT
adj. 1976 Amer. students’ sl. – disgusting
• GROSSER
n. 1979 Amer. students’ sl. – a gross or unattractive person
• GROSS ME OUT!
int. 1980 Amer. students’ sl. – I’m disgusted! that’s terribly disgusting!
• GROSS-OUT
n. a1968 Amer. sl., orig. students’ usage – a revolting or disgusting thing, idea, action, etc.
vb. 1965 Amer. students’ sl. – (as ‘gross out’) to shock and disgust; to revolt; to repulse with crude language
• GROT
n. 1. 1970 sl. – an unpleasant or despicable person, usually male
n. 2. 1971 Brit. sl. – dirt, dirty or disgusting material, filth
• GROTTO
n. 19C Brit. sl. – the female genitals
• GROTTY
adj. 1964 sl. – grotesque; highly undesirable; disgusting; unpleasant; deplorable
• GROUCE
vb. 1887 sl., orig. army usage – to grumble
• GROUCH
n. 1. 1895 Amer. sl. – a fit of ill temper, sulkiness or sullenness; a grudge or complaint
n. 2. 1900 colloq. – a sullen, sulky or ill-tempered person; a complainer
vb. 1916 colloq. – to complain; to sulk or grumble; to mope
• GROUCH BAG
n. 1908 Amer. dial. – a small pouch or bag worn esp. beneath clothing and containing emergency funds (esp. used among travelling performers)
• GROUCH-BOX
n. 1. 1965 Amer. dial. – a mean, bad-tempered person
n. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – someone who fusses
• GROUCHED
adj. 1913 Amer. sl. – annoyed; angry
• GROUCH MONEY
n. 1941 Amer. travelling performers usage – savings for a really rainy day
• GROUCHY
adj. 1861 colloq. – ill-tempered, irritable, grumpy, cross, sulky
• GROUND
vb. 1. 1939 Amer. sl. – to suspend a driver or similar employee from work
vb. 2. 1950 Amer. sl. – to punish, esp. a young person, by forbidding him or her to engage in dating or other social activities
• GROUND APPLE
n. 1931 Amer. sl. – a stone; a rock
• GROUNDED FOR GOOD
adj. Bk1942 Amer. aeronautical sl. – dead
• GROUNDER
n. 1. 1930 Amer. sl. – a cigarette that is picked up from the ground and smoked
n. 2. 1961 Amer. aviation usage – a nonaviator
n. 3. 1978 Amer. drug culture sl. – a barbiturate or similar depressant drug
n. 4. 1981 Amer. police usage – a police call that demands or results in relatively little investigative effort
• GROUND FLYING
n. 1919 Amer. aviation usage – conversation about flying, usually indulged in by those who cannot or do not fly
• GROUND-GRIPPER
n. 1944 military aviation usage – a nonaviator
• GROUNDHOG
n. 1. 1911 Amer. jocular usage – a sausage, frankfurter, hot dog
n. 2. Amer. World War I sl. – an infantryman in the trenches
n. 3. 1918 Amer. aviation usage – a nonaviator, esp. a nonflying air force officer
n. 4. 1919 Amer. sl. – a telephone line repairer’s assistant who remains on the ground; a lineman who does ground work only
n. 5. 1926 Amer. sl. – a person who customarily works underground, esp. a miner or caisson worker
n. 6. 1926 Amer. sl. – on the railway: a brakeman
n. 7. 1971 Amer. sl. – in sports: a groundskeeper
n. 8. 1991 US Air Force usage – in the US Air Force: the Republic F-84 Thunderjet fighter aircraft
• GROUNDHOG CASE
n. 1885 Amer. West usage – a desperate or inescapable situation; an unavoidable situation
• GROUNDIE
n. 1981 Amer. sl. – in tennis: a ground stroke
• GROUND LOOP
n. 1943 Amer. aviation sl. – a state of excitement or confusion
• GROUND NUT
n. 1833 Amer. sl. – a stone
• GROUND-POUNDER
n. 1. 1942 US Army & US Marine Corps usage – an infantry soldier
n. 2. 1945 Amer. military aviation usage – a person in military service who is not an aviator
n. 3. 1990 Amer. sl. – an attack plane that operates close to the ground
• GROUND-POUNDING
adj. 1945 Amer. military aviation usage – nonflying
• GROUND RATIONS
n. 1942 Amer. sl. – copulation on the ground
• GROUND SEED
n. 1871 Amer. sl. – a stone
• GROUNDSIDE
n. 1976 Amer. military aviation usage – the ground; a ground assignment
• GROUND SQUIRREL
n. 1918 Amer. aviation usage – a nonaviator
• GROUND SWEAT
n. 17C sl. – burial in a grave; a grave
• GROUPER
n. 1963 US Air Force usage – a group commander
• GROUP GROPE
n. 1. 1945 US Navy jocular usage – in the navy: a manoeuvre or training exercise involving numerous vessels or aircraft
n. 2. 1967 Amer. sl. – a session of nude encounter-group therapy that includes reciprocal touching or massage; also, a gathering of people for the purpose of simultaneous sexual activity; an orgy
n. 3. 1970 Amer. sl. – uncertainty or lack of direction among individual elements
n. 4. 1980 Amer. sl. – in business: a usually confused business meeting or similar occasion at which the participants subtly attempt to ascertain one another’s ideas or intentions
• GROUPIE
n. 1. 1943 Royal Air Force sl. – a group captain
n. 2. 1967 Amer. sl. – an ardent fan of a rock musician or group, typically a teenage girl, esp. one who follows them on tour, often in hope of achieving sexual intimacy; hence, any ardent fan or devotee
• GROUPIST
n. 1895 – an adherent of a ‘group’ or selection of a political party
• GROUPLET
n. 1837 – a little group
• GROUPY
n. 1967 sl. – a young female fan of a pop group who follows them on tour and tries to have sex with them
• GROUSE
adj. c1920 Aust. sl. – first-class, excellent, very good
n. 1. 1633 obs. – a term of contempt
n. 2. 1864 Amer. sl. – a young woman; hence, copulation
n. 3. 1918 sl. – a grumble or complaint; a reason for grumbling
n. 4. 20C US sl. – women considered sexually
vb. 1. 1885 colloq., orig. military usage – to grumble; to complain constantly
vb. 2. 1958 US sl. – to neck; to pet and kiss; to engage in lovemaking
• THE GROUSE
n. 20C Aust. colloq. – the very best of anything
• GROUSER
n. 1. c1855 sl. – one who runs, sexually, after women
n. 2. 1885 – a grumbler; one who complains
• GROUT
n. 1. 1697 – sediment, dregs, lees
n. 2. World War I sl. – bread
vb. 1. 1848 US – to grumble, to sulk
vb. 2. c1870 UK sl. – to work or study hard
• GROUT-BAG
n. c1880 Eng. schoolboys’ usage – one who studies hard
• GROUTER
n. c1918 Aust. sl. – one who takes an unfair advantage; the unfair advantage itself
• GROUT-HEAD
n. 1. 1550 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – a blockhead, a thickhead, a dunce, a stupid person
n. 2. a1627 – a big head; a person with a big head
• GROUT-HEADED
adj. 1578 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – thick-headed, stupid
• GROUT-HEADRY
n. 1600 obs. – stupidity
• GROUTNOLL
n. 1578 obs. – a blockhead, a thickhead, a dunce
• GROUTY
adj. 1. 1744-50 Eng. dial. – muddy, dirty, soiled, begrimed
adj. 2. 1744-50 Eng. dial. – of the sky, weather: thundery, threatening rain
adj. 3. 1836 Eng. & Amer. dial. – sulky, cross, surly, sullen, ill-tempered, ill-natured, crabbed, grumpy, irritable
• GROUZE
vb. 1624 Eng. dial. – to devour or munch with a crunching sound
• GROVEL
vb. 1987 Amer. student sl. – to engage in lovemaking, esp. petting
• GROVELING
n. 1708 obs. rare – a groveller
• GROVEL IN THE DIRT
vb. 1867 – to humble oneself; to perform an act of humiliation
• GROVEL IN THE DUST
vb. 1865 – to humble oneself; to perform an act of humiliation
• GROVELLED
adj. a1845 – humiliated, debased
• GROVELLING
adv. 1562 obs. rare – horizontally
• GROVELLINGWISE
adv. 1561 obs. – in a grovelling manner
• GROVE OF VENUS
n. L16 euphemism – the vagina
• GROVER
n. 1984 Amer. sl. – a thousand-dollar bill
• GROW
vb. 1600 obs. – of the sea: to swell
• GROW DOWN
vb. 1748 obs. – of the sea: to subside
• GROW HIGH
vb. 1600 obs. – of the sea: to swell
• GROWING ONE’S FEATHERS
phr. c1870 prison sl. – letting one’s hair and beard grow
• GROWL
n. 1. 1841 Amer. nautical sl. – a grumbler
n. 2. 1850 Amer. sl. – a complaint or cause for complaint
n. 3. c1890 Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘cunt’ (Growl and Grunt) – the female genitals
n. 4. 1962 Amer. sl. – in the navy: a radio communications transmission
vb. 1. 1542 obs. rare – to swarm
vb. 2. 1727-46 – of thunder: to rumble
vb. 3. 20C US euphemism – to belch
• GROWL AND GRUNT
n. c1890 rhyming sl. on ‘cunt’ – the female genitals
• GROWL-BITER
n. L19 sl. – a cunnilingist
• GROWLER
n. 1. 1822 Eng. dial. & sl. – a dog
n. 2. 1860 Amer. sl. – a cannon
n. 3. US Civil War usage – a pessimist
n. 4. 1885 Amer. sl. – a pail, can, or pitcher used for carrying beer
n. 5. 1912 Amer. nautical sl. – a small iceberg
n. 6. 1942 Amer. sl. – a chamber pot
n. 7. 1945 Amer. sl. – in the navy: a public-address system
n. 8. 1961 Amer. sl. – a siren
n. 9. 1970 Amer. sl. – a toilet
n. 10. 20C US sl. – beer
• GROWLERY
n. 1. 1830 – a growling, rumbling, or grumbling
n. 2. 1852 – a place to ‘growl’ in; jocularly applied to a person’s private sitting room
• GROWLSOME
adj. 1882 – inclined to growl
• GROWLY
adj. c1920 colloq. – subject to moroseness or ill temper expressed in growls
n. 1900 US Military Academy usage – ketchup
• GROWN
n. 1. c1870 undertakers’ usage – the corpse of an adult
n. 2. 1923 colloq. – an adult
• GROWNIES
n. 1970 teenagers’ – often spelt, where the pun is intentional, ‘groanies’ – grown-ups, esp. one’s own; hence, also one’s friends’ parents
• GROWN-MAN’S DOSE
n. c1860 colloq. – a very large drink; much liquor
• GROWN-UP
n. c1810 colloq. – an adult
• GROWTHS
n. 20C US euphemism – the human breasts
• GROWTHSOME
adj. 1610 obs. – productive, fertile
• GROW UP!
int. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – don’t be ridiculous!
• GROWZE
vb. 1624 Eng. dial. – to devour or munch with a crunching sound
• GROYL
n. 1583 obs. – one who is always on the move
vb. 1583 obs. rare – to move, to make one’s way
• GROYZE
vb. 1891 sl. – to spit
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Updated: February 26, 2023
Lexicophilia 