grubstake

American  

[gruhb-steyk] / ˈgrʌbˌsteɪk /

noun

1. provisions, gear, etc., furnished to a prospector on condition of participating in the profits of any discoveries.

2. money or other assistance furnished at a time of need or of starting an enterprise.

---

verb (used with object)

grubstaked, grubstaking

1. to furnish with a grubstake.

   I grubstaked him to two mules and supplies enough for five months.

grubstake British  

/ ˈɡrʌbˌsteɪk /

noun

1. informal supplies provided for a prospector on the condition that the donor has a stake in any finds

---

verb

1. informal to furnish with such supplies

2. to supply (a person) with a stake in a gambling game

Other Word Forms

• grubstaker noun

Etymology

Origin of grubstake

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; grub + stake ²

Example Sentences

But Hagan also lavishes praise upon Wenner for building a media empire from a tiny grubstake.

From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2017

Both, as it happens, were attributes prized by Charles Lewis Tiffany, who helped found a store that sold stationery and fancy goods in 1837 with a $1,000 grubstake from his father.

From New York Times • Apr. 15, 2015

At the firm's start in 1985, Schwarzman and co-founder Peter G. Peterson shared a secretary and oversaw a grubstake of just $400,000.

From BusinessWeek • May 7, 2009

The staff was an odd mixture of serious newsmen who liked to work in Paris and assorted spirits working briefly and indifferently for a grubstake.

From Time Magazine Archive

He told Westerberg he planned on staying until April 15, just long enough to put together a grubstake.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer