gruel

[ groo-uhl ]

See synonyms for gruel on Thesaurus.com

noun

a light, usually thin, cooked cereal made by boiling meal, especially oatmeal, in water or milk.

Origin of gruel

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French, Old French, perhaps via an intermediary such as Medieval Latin grūtellum (unrecorded), from grūtum “flour, meal” (from a Germanic source akin to German Grütze “ground cereal grains”; see grits, grout) + -ellum, diminutive suffix

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gruel in a sentence

Good calves have been raised on gruels made of these meals, without any milk after the first two weeks.
Soil Culture | J. H. Walden
The gruels are so many that we must wish Mr. Woodhouse had known of the book.
The Closet of Sir Kenelm Digby Knight Opened | Kenelm Digby
Gruels may be given to which skimmed milk may be added: later add the ordinary milk.
The Eugenic Marriage, Volume IV. (of IV.) | Grant Hague
Later kumyss or matzoon can be tried, and finally thin gruels made with milk.
The Eugenic Marriage, Volume IV. (of IV.) | Grant Hague
Very light nourishment should be taken during the day, composed of gruels and soups.
The Eugenic Marriage, Volume IV. (of IV.) | Grant Hague

British Dictionary definitions for gruel

gruel

/ (ˈɡruːəl) /

noun

a drink or thin porridge, made by boiling meal, esp oatmeal, in water or milk

Origin of gruel

C14: from Old French, of Germanic origin; see grout

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

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