grutch

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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The verb is from Middle English grucchen (attested since c. 1200), from Old French grouchier (to grumble), of unknown origin, perhaps from Germanic, and likely of onomatopoeic origin. Compare Frankish *grōtijan (to accuse, yell at, make cry, scold). The noun is from Middle English grucche, from the verb; it is attested since about 1400. See also grudge, grouch, grouse.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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grutch (third-person singular simple present grutches, present participle grutching, simple past and past participle grutched)

  1. (intransitive) To murmur, complain.
    • 1891, Arthur Conan Doyle, The White Company:
      "But I am a man who may grutch and grumble, but when I have set my face to do a thing I will not turn my back upon it until it be done."
  2. (obsolete) To grudge.

Noun

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grutch (plural grutches)

  1. A complaint.
    • 1663, Samuel Butler, Hudibras, part 1, canto 1:
      In it he melted lead for bullets,
      To shoot at foes, and sometimes pullets;
      To whom he bore so fell a grutch,
      He ne'er gave quarter t' any such.

Translations

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