Main Entry:

gru·el

Pronunciation:

\ˈgrü-əl\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English grewel, from Anglo-French gruel, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English grūt grout

Date:

14th century

1: a thin porridge2 [from to get one's gruel to accept punishment] chiefly British : punishment3: something that lacks substance or significance <the argument was thin gruel>