1
: alcoholic liquor
especially : liquor (such as rum) cut with water and now often served hot with lemon juice and sugar sometimes added
2
: refractory materials (such as crushed pottery and firebricks) used in the manufacture of refractory products (such as crucibles) to reduce shrinkage in drying and firing

Did you know?

Eighteenth-century English admiral Edward Vernon reputedly earned the nickname "Old Grog" because he often wore a cloak made from grogram (a coarse, loosely woven fabric made of silk or silk blended with mohair or wool). In Old Grog's day, sailors in the Royal Navy were customarily given a daily ration of rum, but in 1740 the admiral, concerned about the health of his men, ordered that the rum should be diluted with water. The decision wasn't very popular with the sailors, who supposedly dubbed the mixture "grog" after Vernon. Today, "grog" can be used as a general term for any liquor, even undiluted, and someone who acts drunk or shaky can be called "groggy."

Examples of grog in a Sentence

sailors clamoring for more grog
Recent Examples on the Web Need stronger grog? Washington Post, 9 May 2021 Given the cemetery setting, researchers propose grog was made during funerary rituals in the cave, as an offering to the dearly departed and refreshment for the living. Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 24 Apr. 2020 Krampus Kandy White Stout – The golden ale started as a holiday offering but now is available all year, infused with Highlander grog coffee. Marc Bona, cleveland, 12 Dec. 2022 Just a few days earlier, a grog run had gone terribly wrong on the road. Michael Robinson Chavez, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2022 The word nog comes from the word grog; or any drink made with rum. Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 23 Sep. 2022 As long as the grub and grog kept comin’, and as long as everyone had a few turns gripping and ripping. Michael McKnight, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2022 O’Brian’s novels not only provide a holodeck-type experience, they are peppered with examples of how sailors adapted to months at sea (e.g., making and darning their clothing, playing music together, drinking grog, of course). Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 Imbibing is not as easy as visiting a bar, however: The tradition of kava and grog involves ceremony and storytelling, and a few hours of making new friends. Valerie Marino, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grog.' 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

Old Grog, nickname of Edward Vernon †1757 English admiral responsible for diluting the sailors' rum

First Known Use

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grog was in 1756

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Dictionary Entries Near grog

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

grog

noun
: alcoholic liquor
especially : liquor (as rum) weakened with water
groggery
ˈgräg-ə-rē
noun
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