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 porridge
2 [from to get one's gruel to accept punishment] chiefly British : punishment
3 : something that lacks substance or significance <the argument was thin gruel>