n. & v.
--n.
1. the larva of an insect, esp. of a beetle.
2 colloq. food.
--v. (grubbed, grubbing)
1. tr. & intr. dig superficially.
2 tr. a clear (the ground) of roots and stumps. b clear away (roots etc.).
3 tr. (foll. by up, out) a fetch by digging (grubbing up weeds). b extract (information etc.) by searching in books etc.
4 intr. search, rummage.
5 intr. (foll. by on, along, away) toil, plod.
Phrases and idioms:
grub-screw a small headless screw, esp. used to attach a handle etc. to a spindle.
Derivatives:
grubber n. (also in comb.).
Etymology: ME, (v.) perh. corresp. to OE grybban (unrecorded) f. Gmc