grizzle
To make or become grey, as with ageTo make or become grey, as with age.
» Tom is a grizzled old man.
Том — седой старик.
Том — сивий стариган.
Meaning
4 sensesTo make or become grey, as with age.
R. F. Burton hardship of the way such as would grizzle little children
Pall Mall Magazine I found myself on the Nubian desert shaking hands with a grizzling man whom men addressed as Collins Bey.
To cry continuously but not very loudly (said especially of young children).
(Australia, New Zealand, UK, slang)To whinge or whine.
(Australia, New Zealand, UK, slang)To fuss or cry.
- be in a huff; be silent or sullen
- complain whiningly
Examples
4 sentencesTom is a grizzled old man.
Том — сивий стариган.
ruТом — седой старик.
Ak, as was his habit when in thought, stroked his grizzled beard slowly.
deWie er es immer tat, wenn er nachdachte, strich sich Ak bedächtig den ergrauten Bart.
Elias has grizzled hair.
He was an elderly man, with a thin, projecting nose, a high, bald forehead, and a huge grizzled moustache.
Origin
From Middle English grisel, gryselle, from Old French grisel, from gris (“grey”), from FraFrom Middle English grisel, gryselle, from Old French grisel, from gris (“grey”), from Frankish *grīs, from Proto-Germanic *grīsaz.
A West Country dialect term, perhaps from Old English grisan (“shudder”), which would make it a cognate of modern English grisly (not grizzly).
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Forms
grizzles, grizzling, grizzled, grizzledSynonyms
5 synonymsWord family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle