Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

grue

[groo]
verb (used without object), grued, gru·ing. Chiefly Scot.
  1. to shudder.
Show More

Origin of grue

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for grue

Historical Examples

  • Still, that general staff tag for Mr. Grue tickled us a bit.

    Torchy and Vee

    Sewell Ford

  • Grue or grew; to turn from with disgust:—'He grued at the physic.'

  • I wadna ca' them that on the tap of Ben-Nevis without a grue.

  • Suddenly there was a flash; a flurrying cloud of blue mud; and Grue was gone.

    Police!!!

    Robert W. Chambers

  • But which it was—the loss of her or the loss of Grue, I had not yet made up my mind.

    Police!!!

    Robert W. Chambers

British Dictionary definitions for grue

grue

noun
  1. a shiver or shudder; a creeping of the flesh
Show More
verb (intr)
  1. to shiver or shudder
  2. to feel strong aversion
Show More

Word Origin

C14: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Swedish grua, Old Danish grue; related to German graven, Dutch gruwen to abhor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012