v. & n.
v. 1 intr. colloq. complain, esp. peevishly. 2 tr. affect with gastric or intestinal pain. 3 tr. archaic clutch, grip. 4 Naut. a tr. secure with gripes. b intr. turn to face the wind in spite of the helm.
n. 1 (usu. in pl.) gastric or intestinal pain; colic. 2 colloq. a a complaint. b the act of griping. 3 a grip or clutch. 4 (in pl.) Naut. lashings securing a boat in its place. Gripe Water propr. a carminative solution to relieve colic and stomach ailments in infants. griper n. gripingly adv.
[ OE gripan f. Gmc: cf. GROPE ]