Grit

n. [A-S. grytt, grytte, bran, dust, grūt, barley; D. grut, grutte, gort, grit, groats; Dan. gröd, N. H. Ger. grütze, O. H. Ger. gruzi, gruzzi, from kriozan, M. H. Ger. griezen, allied to Lith. grudas, grain. Cf. GROUT and GROATS. From the same root is derived A-S. greót, grit, sand, dust; O. Sax. griot, greot, O. Fries. grêt, gravel; Icel. griot, rocks, stones; O. H. Ger. grioz, N. H. Ger. griesz, sand.]

1. The coarse part of meal.
2. Oats or wheat hulled, or coarsely ground; groats; — usually in the plural.
3. Sand or gravel; rough, hard particles.
4. (Geol.) A hard, coarse-grained silicious sandstone; as, millstone grit; — called, also, gritrock, and gritstone. Lyell.
5. Structure adapted to grind or sharpen well; as, a bone of good grit.
6. Firmness of mind, and courage; spirit; determination; resolution; spunk. [Colloq.]
7. A kind of crab. [Obs.] Holland.