v. & n.
--v.
1. intr. colloq. complain, esp. peevishly.
2 tr. affect with gastric or intestinal pain.
3 tr. archaic clutch, grip.
4 Naut. a tr. secure with gripes. b intr. turn to face the wind in spite of the helm.
--n.
1. (usu. in pl.) gastric or intestinal pain; colic.
2 colloq. a a complaint. b the act of griping.
3 a grip or clutch.
4 (in pl.) Naut. lashings securing a boat in its place.
Phrases and idioms:
Gripe Water propr. a carminative solution to relieve colic and stomach ailments in infants.
Derivatives:
griper n. gripingly adv.
Etymology: OE gripan f. Gmc: cf. GROPE