Grŭb'street, n. or a.

n. or a. A street near Moorfields, in London (now called Milton Street), “much inhabited by writers of small histories, dictionaries, and temporary poems, whence any mean production is called grubstreet.” Johnson. As an adjective, suitable to, or resembling the productions of, Grub Street.

I'd sooner ballads write, and grubstreet lays. Gay.