gristle

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English gristel, grystyl, from Old English gristel (“gristle, cartilage”), Proto-West Germanic *gristl, of obscure origin; possibly from a pre-Germanic substrate language. Seemingly equivalent to a diminutive of Old English grist (“a grinding”), equivalent to modern English grist +‎ -le; possibly related to Proto-Germanic *gredaną (“to crunch”). (Can this(+) etymology be sourced?) Cognate with Old Frisian gristel, gerstel (“gristle, cartilage”), Middle Low German gristel (“gristle”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈɡɹɪsəl/ Rhymes: -ɪsəl === Noun === gristle (countable and uncountable, plural gristles) Cartilage; now especially: cartilage present, as a tough substance, in meat. (figuratively, from obsolete scientific theory) Bone not yet hardened by age and hard work. 1885, Ada Sarah Ballin, The Science of Dress in Theory and Practice, It. must be borne in mind that the bones of a young infant are little more than gristle, and are liable to bend, and so become deformed. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === See also === grizzle (not to be confused with) === References === === Further reading === William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “gristle”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. === Anagrams === Stigler, glister, riglets