n. & v.
n. 1 particles of stone or sand, esp. as causing discomfort, clogging machinery, etc. 2 coarse sandstone. 3 colloq. pluck, endurance; strength of character.
v. (gritted, gritting) 1 tr. spread grit on (icy roads etc.). 2 tr. clench (the teeth). 3 intr. make or move with a grating sound. gritter n. gritty adj. (grittier, grittiest). grittily adv. grittiness n.
[ OE greot f. Gmc: cf. GRITS, GROATS ]