Showing Results for "grits"

See Also:

• present tense form of grit (3rd person singular).

grits

American  

[grits] / grɪts /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. Also called hominy grits.  (especially in Southern cooking) coarsely ground hominy, or white corn, boiled to a thick consistency and then sometimes fried, eaten as a breakfast dish or as a side dish with meat.

2. grain hulled and coarsely ground.

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grits British  

/ ɡrɪts /

plural noun

1. hulled and coarsely ground grain

2. See hominy grits

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Etymology

Origin of grits

First recorded before 900; Middle English grut(t)a, gryttes (plural) “coarse meal, bran,” Old English gryt(t) “dust, meal”; cognate with German Grütze

Compare meaning

How does grits compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hominy vs. grits

Explanation

Grits are a savory dish made of ground cornmeal. You can order grits with your eggs at the diner, or try shrimp and grits for dinner. While grits are most popular in the southern United States, they've become more common in other places, particularly as a breakfast dish. Grits, unlike polenta, mash, and other soft, corn-based foods, are made from hominy, a type of corn that's soaked in an alkaline solution before being ground. This traditional Native American dish was passed along to southern colonists in the 17th century. Grits are so popular in the South that the region is sometimes called "the grits belt."

Related Words

• gruel
• oatmeal
• polenta