gruel

[ groo-uhl ]

noun

1. a light, usually thin, cooked cereal made by boiling meal, especially oatmeal, in water or milk.

gruel

/ ˈɡruːəl /

noun

1. a drink or thin porridge, made by boiling meal, esp oatmeal, in water or milk

Word History and Origins

Origin of gruel¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French, Old French, perhaps via an intermediary such as Medieval Latin grūtellum (unrecorded), from grūtum “flour, meal” (from a Germanic source akin to German Grütze “ground cereal grains”; grits, grout ) + -ellum, diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of gruel¹

C14: from Old French, of Germanic origin; see grout

Example Sentences

“You know, kids in other countries have no choice. They have to eat gruel for every meal.”

From Los Angeles Times

During the long voyage, the meal offered to captives was usually little more than a worm-ridden gruel—a thin, watery boiled cereal—or a concoction called “dab-a-dab,” a mash of beans, rice, and corn.

From Literature

His only diversion was to make pictures using the hard bits of grain collected from the meager gruel his jailers gave him.

From New York Times

Wales' finance minister will certainly have an increased public profile before Christmas when she publishes the Welsh government's draft budget next week - although the indications are it'll be thin gruel.

From BBC

Labour's shadow housing minister Matthew Pennycook dismissed the government's plans, saying: "If this thin gruel is all we're getting in the King's Speech, leaseholders will have been failed."

From BBC