I. ˈgrənt verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English grunnettan, frequentative of grunian, of imitative origin
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
: to utter a grunt
transitive verb
: to utter with a grunt
• grunt·er noun
II. noun
Date: 1553
1.
a. : the deep short sound characteristic of a hog
b. : a similar sound
2.
[from the noise it makes when taken from the water]
: any of a family (Haemulidae syn. Pomadasyidae) of chiefly tropical marine bony fishes
3. : a dessert made by dropping biscuit dough on top of boiling berries and steaming
blueberry grunt
4.
a. : a United States army or marine foot soldier especially in the Vietnam War
b. : one who does routine unglamorous work — often used attributively
grunt work
[
grunt 2
]