Etymology 1

Noun

1. Collection of hard small materials, such as dirt, ground stone, debris from sandblasting or other such grinding, swarf from metalworking.

   The flower beds were white with grit from sand blasting the flagstone walkways.

2. Inedible particles in food.

   Tastes like grit from nut shells in these cookies.

3. A character trait that means to have courage, fearlessness, or guts.

   That kid with the cast on his arm has the grit to play dodgeball.

Verb

1. To clench, particularly in reaction to pain or anger; apparently only appears in gritting one's teeth.

   We had no choice but to grit our teeth and get on with it.

   He has a sleeping disorder and grits his teeth.

2. To cover with grit.