grizzle

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See also: Grizzle

English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From Middle English grisel, gryselle, from Old French grisel, from gris (grey), from Frankish *grīs, from Proto-Germanic *grīsaz.

Noun

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grizzle (plural grizzles)

  1. A dark grey colour.
    grizzle:  
  2. Grey hair.
  3. A grey wig.
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Adjective

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grizzle

  1. Of a grey colour.

Verb

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grizzle (third-person singular simple present grizzles, present participle grizzling, simple past and past participle grizzled)

  1. To make or become grey, as with age.
    • R. F. Burton
      hardship of the way such as would grizzle little children
    • Pall Mall Magazine
      I found myself on the Nubian desert shaking hands with a grizzling man whom men addressed as Collins Bey.
Translations
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Etymology 2

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From English West Country dialect.[1]

Verb

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grizzle (third-person singular simple present grizzles, present participle grizzling, simple past and past participle grizzled)

  1. to cry continuously but not very loudly - especially of a young child.
  2. (UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang) To whinge or whine.
  3. (UK, Australia, New Zealand, slang) To fuss or cry
    • 1990, The Baby Book, →ISBN, page 88:
      New mothers frequently complain that their partner won't get up to change a wet nappy or comfort a grizzling baby.
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References

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  1. ^ 2010, Alex Games, Balderdash & Piffle: English Words and Their Curious Origins, page 135.