grunt

[gruhnt] /grʌnt/
verb (used without object)
1.
to utter the deep, guttural sound characteristic of a hog.
2.
to utter a similar sound.
3.
to grumble, as in discontent.
verb (used with object)
4.
to express with a grunt.
noun
5.
a sound of grunting.
6.
New England Cookery. a dessert, typically of cherries, peaches, or apples sweetened and spiced, and topped with biscuit dough.
7.
any food fish of the family Pomadasyidae (Haemulidae), found chiefly in tropical and subtropical seas, that emits grunting sounds.
8.
Slang. a soldier, especially an infantryman.
9.
Slang. a common or unskilled worker; laborer.
Origin
before 900; Middle English grunten, Old English grunnettan, frequentative of grunian to grunt; cognate with German grunzen, Latin grunnīre
Related forms
gruntingly, adverb
Examples from the web for grunt
  • As in, pick it up and ugh and grunt as you place it.
  • There are more people who want to work in music but don't think they need to learn the grunt work.
  • They get stuck with all the grunt work while their bosses swan around in the limelight.
  • Those of us pacing beneath listen to him grunt and huff.
  • The javelinas grunt softly and bump into each other as they snack.
  • Some rabbits go round and round the owners' legs and grunt while doing it.
  • Most volunteer vacations charge participants for the chance to do grunt work without pay.
  • She's back to being loud and abrasive and another office grunt.
  • The grunt work paid off, and a new era of campaigning began.
  • The taller soldier had six inches of reach on his opponent, but the shorter grunt was giving him a run for his money.
British Dictionary definitions for grunt

grunt

/ɡrʌnt/
verb
1.
(intransitive) (esp of pigs and some other animals) to emit a low short gruff noise
2.
(when transitive, may take a clause as object) to express something gruffly: he grunted his answer
noun
3.
the characteristic low short gruff noise of pigs, etc, or a similar sound, as of disgust
4.
any of various mainly tropical marine sciaenid fishes, such as Haemulon macrostomum (Spanish grunt), that utter a grunting sound when caught
5.
(US, slang) an infantry soldier or US Marine, esp in the Vietnam War
Derived Forms
gruntingly, adverb
Word Origin
Old English grunnettan, probably of imitative origin; compare Old High German grunnizōn, grunni moaning, Latin grunnīre
Word Origin and History for grunt
v.

Old English grunnettan "to grunt," frequentative of grunian "to grunt," probably imitative (cf. Danish grynte, Old High German grunnizon, German grunzen "to grunt," Latin grunnire "to grunt"). Related: Grunted; grunting.

n.

1550s, from grunt (v.); as a type of fish, from 1713; meaning "infantry soldier" emerged in U.S. military slang during Vietnam War (first recorded in print 1969); used since 1900 of various low-level workers. Grunt work first recorded 1977.

Slang definitions & phrases for grunt

grunt

noun
  1. A line repairer's helper who works on the ground and does not climb poles (1900+ Line repairers)
  2. A locomotive engineer; hogger (1940s+ Railroad)
  3. An infantry soldier: I was drafted and served twelve months as a grunt in Vietnam/ Now there's a willingness to tell the story of the poor grunt who got his tail shot off (Vietnam War armed forces)
  4. Any low-ranking person, neophyte, etc: The attitude among the reporter grunts was pretty much ''them against us'' (late 1960s+)
  5. A bill for food or drink: I just hope Toots didn't bring along any of the grunts I must have left in that oasis (1940s+)
  6. A diligent student; grind: A grunt is a student who gives a shit about nothing except his sheepskin (1980s+)
Related Terms

cluck and grunt


Encyclopedia Article for grunt

any of about 75 species of marine fishes of the families Pomadasyidae and Banjosidae (order Perciformes). Grunts are found along shores in warm and tropical waters of the major oceans. They are snapperlike but with weaker teeth and are named for the piglike grunts they can produce with their pharyngeal (throat) teeth. Some (genus Haemulon) are further characterized by bright, reddish mouth linings. Grunts are edible and valued as food, though most species are small. Some are noted for a behavioral trait in which two individuals approach and "kiss." The purpose of this, whether sexual or aggressive, is not known.

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