thin gruel

  • 1gruel — noun Etymology: Middle English grewel, from Anglo French gruel, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English grūt grout Date: 14th century 1. a thin porridge 2. [from to get one s gruel to accept punishment] chiefly British punishment 3. something… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 2Gruel — Gru el, n. [OF. gruel, F. gruau; of German origin; cf. OHG. gruzzi groats, G. gr[ u]tze, As. gr[=u]t. See {Grout}.] A light, liquid food, made by boiling meal of maize, oatmeal, or flour in water or milk; thin porridge. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3gruel — late 12c., meal or flour made of beans, lentils, etc., from O.Fr. gruel fine meal, from Frankish *grut (Cf. M.Du. grute coarse meal, malt; M.H.G. gruz grain ), from PIE *ghreu to rub, grind (see GRIT (Cf. grit)). Meaning thin porridge or soup is… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4gruel — ► NOUN ▪ a thin liquid food of oatmeal or other meal boiled in milk or water. ORIGIN Old French …

    English terms dictionary

  • 5gruel — [gro͞o′əl] n. [ME < OFr, coarse meal < ML * grutellum, dim. of grutum, meal, mash < Gmc * grut, hulled dried grain, akin to GROATS] 1. thin, easily digested porridge made by cooking meal in water or milk 2. [Old Brit. Informal]… …

    English World dictionary

  • 6gruel — /grooh euhl/, n. a light, usually thin, cooked cereal made by boiling meal, esp. oatmeal, in water or milk. [1275 1325; ME < MF, OF, equiv. to gru ( < Gmc; see GROUT) + el dim. suffix] * * * …

    Universalium

  • 7gruel — noun A thin, watery porridge. See Also: groat, groats, grit, grits, grout …

    Wiktionary

  • 8gruel — A semiliquid food of oatmeal or other cereal boiled in water; thin porridge. [thru O. Fr., fr. Mediev. L. grutum, meal] …

    Medical dictionary

  • 9gruel — noun a thin liquid food of oatmeal or other meal boiled in milk or water. Origin ME: from OFr., of Gmc origin …

    English new terms dictionary

  • 10gruel — noun (U) a thin liquid food made of crushed oats that was eaten in the past by poor or sick people …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English