n.
Pronunciation: ' grü- ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English grewel, from Anglo-French gruel, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English gr ū t grout
Date: 14th century
1 : a thin porridge
2 [from to get one's gruel to accept punishment] chiefly British : PUNISHMENT
3 : something that lacks substance or significance <the argument was thin gruel >