grist

noun

1
a
: grain or a batch of grain for grinding
b
: the product obtained from a grist of grain including the flour or meal and the grain offals
2
: a required or usual amount
3
: matter of interest or value forming the basis of a story or analysis
4
: something turned to advantage or use
used especially in the phrase grist for one's mill

Examples of grist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web President Biden’s apparent desire to calibrate the response and avoid a wider conflict with Iran offered plenty of grist for Trump’s spinning mill. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024 She’s released it, on Amazon, alongside an album of new songs, a few of which provide grist for the visual component. Wesley Morris, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 As reflected in its name, the enterprise, founded in 1797 by Andrew and David Shriver Jr., featured a union of two mills: a grist mill and sawmill. Kevin Dayhoff, Baltimore Sun, 20 Jan. 2024 The larger issue is that tech companies scrape the work of artists and writers to their benefit without consent or compensation, turning anyone who has ever had the audacity to post anything to the internet — including a 6-year-old — into grist for their mill. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2024 As reflected in its name, the enterprise, founded in 1797 by Andrew and David Shriver Jr., featured a union of two mills: a grist mill and saw mill. Samuel M. Riley, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2024 Union Mills is widely known for its large grist mill that still stands today at the historic site north of Westminster, open seasonally for the public to tour. Samuel M. Riley, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2024 Advertisement The research also provides grist for those who claim that the Khalistanis are getting significant support from the government of Pakistan, India’s neighbor and strategic rival. Joseph Menn, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2023 The most obvious story to feed into the late-night grist mill this week was George Santos. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English grīst; akin to Old English grindan to grind

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of grist was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near grist

Cite this Entry

“Grist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grist. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

grist

noun
: grain to be ground or already ground

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