I. ˈgrəb verb
( grubbed ; grub·bing )
Etymology: Middle English grubben; akin to Old English grafan to dig — more at grave
Date: 14th century
transitive verb
1. : to clear by digging up roots and stumps
2. : to dig up by or as if by the roots
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to dig in the ground especially for something that is difficult to find or extract
b. : to search about
grubbed in the countryside for food — Lamp
2. : toil , drudge
grubbing along at newspaper jobs — Walter Kirn
• grub·ber noun
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English grubbe, from grubben
Date: 15th century
1. : a soft thick wormlike larva of an insect (as a beetle)
2.
a. : one who does menial work : drudge
b. : a slovenly person
3. : food