gristbite

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English grisbaten, from Old English gristbitian. Equivalent to grist (to grind) +‎ bite.

Verb

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gristbite (third-person singular simple present gristbites, present participle gristbiting, simple past gristbit, past participle gristbitten or gristbit)

  1. (archaic, dialect) To gnash one's teeth.
    • 1866, George Walter Thornbury, Greatheart:
      Mrs. Tolpedden achieved a dashing cannon, and then gave a miss, at which she "grisbetted", as Milly called it.
    • 2017, Ethan Fogus, “Nightdrive”, in How to Make a Mudsparkler, page 8:
      I’d lean against

      the door and stare out the car window
      terror-stricken in any hairpin turn but

      soon felt my tight gristbit milk teeth
      were set free by laughing through

      each shotgun seat squeeze []