"gruel" Definition - English Dictionary

Definitions for the word "gruel" from multiple English dictionaries.

1. n.

A light, liquid food, made by boiling meal of maize, oatmeal, or fiour in water or milk; thin porridge.

Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

2. n.

Liquid food of oatmeal etc. Boiled in milk or water. [french from germanic]

Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884

3. slang

“to give a person his GRUEL,” to kill him. An expression in all probability derived from the report of a trial for poisoning, or from the easiest manner of administering a dose of poison. In the old days a similar phrase was “to drug a posset.” Compare “to settle his hash,” and “cook his goose.”

Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864

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Additional Info
This page provides a list of definitions and meanings for "gruel" from various historical English dictionaries. By displaying multiple definitions, you can compare and contrast different meanings and nuances of a word, phrase, or slang. You can also see the changes in meaning of "gruel" over time by viewing the definitions from different dictionaries published at different times in history. The page also includes other information to help users expand their vocabulary and understand the context of the word.

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