Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for grunt on Thesaurus.com verb (used without object) to utter the deep, guttural sound characteristic of a hog. to utter a similar sound. to grumble, as in discontent. Show More
a sound of grunting. New England Cookery a dessert, typically of cherries, peaches, or apples sweetened and spiced, and topped with biscuit dough. any food fish of the family Pomadasyidae (Haemulidae), found chiefly in tropical and subtropical seas, that emits grunting sounds. Slang a soldier, especially an infantryman. Slang a common or unskilled worker; laborer. Show More
Origin of grunt before 900; Middle English grunten, Old English grunnettan, frequentative of grunian to grunt; cognate with German grunzen, Latin grunnīre
Related forms grunt·ing·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for grunt Contemporary Examples of grunt The grunt takes a hard look at our interpreter, rotates his M16 and opens the vehicle door, motioning for us to get out.
The grunt asks us where we are going and we respond, “to the Korengal.”
As a grunt , he lectured a high-ranking officer in protest of Marines who attacked a Vietnamese child.
Fortunately, the Food Sense App for the iPhone does the grunt work for you.
Piggy, saying nothing, with no time for even a grunt , traveled through the air sideways from the rock, turning over as he went.
Historical Examples of grunt The three gave Andy a look and a grunt , but otherwise they paid no attention to him.
There was a brief shifting of eyes toward him, and a grunt from Jeff; that was all.
He did not speak, but he made an inarticulate noise between a grunt and a sniff.
Mr Verloc, after a grunt of disapproving surprise, returned to the sofa.
The grunt of the human hog (Pignoramus intolerabilis) with an audible memory.
British Dictionary definitions for grunt (intr) (esp of pigs and some other animals) to emit a low short gruff noise (when tr, may take a clause as object) to express something gruffly he grunted his answer Show More
the characteristic low short gruff noise of pigs, etc, or a similar sound, as of disgust any of various mainly tropical marine sciaenid fishes, such as Haemulon macrostomum (Spanish grunt ), that utter a grunting sound when caught US slang an infantry soldier or US Marine, esp in the Vietnam War Show More
Derived Forms gruntingly , adverb Word Origin for grunt Old English grunnettan, probably of imitative origin; compare Old High German grunnizōn, grunni moaning, Latin grunnīre
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for grunt v. Old English grunnettan "to grunt," frequentative of grunian "to grunt," probably imitative (cf. Danish grynte , Old High German grunnizon , German grunzen "to grunt," Latin grunnire "to grunt"). Related: Grunted ; grunting .
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n. 1550s, from grunt (v.); as a type of fish, from 1713; meaning "infantry soldier" emerged in U.S. military slang during Vietnam War (first recorded in print 1969); used since 1900 of various low-level workers. Grunt work first recorded 1977.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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