n. & v.
n. 1 the larva of an insect, esp. of a beetle. 2 colloq. food.
v. (grubbed, grubbing) 1 tr. & intr. dig superficially. 2 tr. a clear (the ground) of roots and stumps. b clear away (roots etc.). 3 tr. (foll. by up, out) a fetch by digging (grubbing up weeds). b extract (information etc.) by searching in books etc. 4 intr. search, rummage. 5 intr. (foll. by on, along, away) toil, plod. grub-screw a small headless screw, esp. used to attach a handle etc. to a spindle. grubber n. (also in comb.).
[ ME, (v.) perh. corresp. to OE grybban (unrecorded) f. Gmc ]