grits

noun

ˈgrits 

plural in form but singular or plural in construction

: coarsely ground hulled grain

especially : ground hominy with the germ removed

Word History

Etymology

late Old English grutta "bran, coarse meal," going back to Old English grytt "finely ground flour," going back to Germanic grutjō- or grutja- (whence also Middle Dutch gorte "groats, grits" [with metathesis], Middle Low German grütte, Old High German gruzzi), noun derivative from zero-grade of *greutan- "to grind, crush" — more at grit entry 1

Note: The history of this word prior to its appearance in the plural form grits in the seventeenth century is somewhat obscure. Slightly earlier than grits in printed works are greates (1594) and greyts (1597), which appear to have taken their form from descendants of Old English grēot "grit, gravel" (see grit entry 1), and a metathetic form gurts. Middle English evidence is lacking following the transitional Old English/Middle English forms grutta (Medicina de Quadrupedibus) and gruta (from a late copy of Ælfric's Old English-Latin glossary in the Worcester Fragments), with <u> presumably for /y/.

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing grits

• hominy grits

Rhymes for grits

• bits
• blitz
• brits
• fits
• flits
• frits
• fritz
• hits
• its
• kits
• knits
• lits

Kids Definition

grits

plural noun

ˈgrits 

: coarsely ground hulled grain

hominy grits