grizzled

[griz-uh ld] /ˈgrɪz əld/
adjective
1.
having gray or partly gray hair.
2.
gray or partly gray.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English. See grizzle1, -ed3
Related forms
ungrizzled, adjective
Can be confused
grisly, gristly, grizzled, grizzly.

grizzle1

[griz-uh l] /ˈgrɪz əl/
verb (used without object), verb (used with object), grizzled, grizzling.
1.
to make or become gray or partly gray.
adjective
2.
gray; grayish; devoid of hue.
noun
3.
gray or partly gray hair.
4.
a gray wig.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English grisel < Old French, derivative of gris gray < Germanic; see griseous

grizzle2

[griz-uh l] /ˈgrɪz əl/
verb (used without object), grizzled, grizzling. British
1.
to complain; whimper; whine.
2.
to laugh or grin in mockery; sneer.
Origin
1740-50; origin uncertain; compare Middle High German grisgramen to gnash one's teeth, German Griesgram sourpuss
Related forms
grizzler, noun
Examples from the web for grizzled
  • The seasoned soldiers were as surprised as the grizzled reporter.
  • Naturally, even these grizzled veterans allow that some things have changed for the better.
  • grizzled gray or orangish gray above, with buff underparts.
  • But even this grizzled veteran thinks the tipping point for personalised medical devices has arrived, for three reasons.
  • Brown bears are often called grizzly bears because the tips of the hair on many of them is grayish, or grizzled.
  • He has played so many grizzled cowboys he now seems to live in the role.
  • The common name of the genus refers to their elegant fur, which in this species is grizzled with long white hairs.
  • He had grizzled hair, and a certain uneasy, half-furtive look about the eyes.
  • They're the economic equivalent of a macroeconomic lecture from a grizzled senior professor.
  • His best-known characterization was as a grizzled, paintbrush-mustached old codger.
British Dictionary definitions for grizzled

grizzled

/ˈɡrɪzəld/
adjective
1.
streaked or mixed with grey; grizzly; griseous
2.
having grey or partly grey hair

grizzle1

/ˈɡrɪzəl/
verb
1.
to make or become grey
noun
2.
a grey colour
3.
grey or partly grey hair
4.
a grey wig
Word Origin
C15: from Old French grisel, from gris, of Germanic origin; compare Middle High German grīs grey

grizzle2

/ˈɡrɪzəl/
verb (intransitive) (informal, mainly Brit)
1.
(esp of a child) to fret; whine
2.
to sulk or grumble
Derived Forms
grizzler, noun
Word Origin
C18: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German grist-grimmōn gnashing of teeth, German Griesgram unpleasant person
Word Origin and History for grizzled
adj.

"gray in color," early 14c. (in surname Grissel), a past participle adjective from grizzle, or from Old French grisel "gray," diminutive of gris "gray," from a Frankish or other Germanic source (cf. Old High German gris "gray;" see gray, also cf. ambergris). The -zz- spelling is early 15c.

grizzle

adj.

"gray-colored," early 15c., from Old French grisel (see grizzled) which also meant "gray-haired old man" (a noun sense recorded in Middle English from mid-14c.). The verb, "to make gray," is attested from 1740.

grizzled in the Bible

party-coloured, as goats (Gen. 31:10, 12), horses (Zech. 6:3, 6).