n. & v.
--n.
1. particles of stone or sand, esp. as causing discomfort, clogging machinery, etc.
2 coarse sandstone.
3 colloq. pluck, endurance; strength of character.
--v. (gritted, gritting)
1. tr. spread grit on (icy roads etc.).
2 tr. clench (the teeth).
3 intr. make or move with a grating sound.
Derivatives:
gritter n. gritty adj. (grittier, grittiest). grittily adv. grittiness n.
Etymology: OE greot f. Gmc: cf. GRITS, GROATS