James Whitcomb Reilly, Afterwhiles (1888).
Grildrig, a mannikin.
She gave me the name “Grildrig,” which the family took up, and afterwards the whole kingdom. The word imports what the Latin calls manunculus the Italian homunceletion, and the English mannikin.—Dean Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (“Voyage to Brobdingnag,” 1726).
Grim, a fisherman who rescued, from a boat turned adrift, an infant named Habloc, whom he adopted and brought up. This infant was the son of the king of Denmark, and when restored to his royal father, the fisherman, laden with rich presents, built the village, which he called after his own name, Grims-by or “Grim’s town.”
⁂ The ancient seal of the town contained the names of “Gryme” and “Habloc.”
Grim (Giant,) a huge giant, who tried to stop pilgrims[pilgrims] on their way to the Celestial City. He was slain by Mr. Greatheart.—Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, ii. (1684).
Grimalkin, a cat, the spirit of a witch. Any witch was permitted to assume the body of a cat nine times. When the “first Witch” (in Macbeth) hears a cat mew, she says, “I come, Grimalkin” (act i. sc. 1).
Grime, the partner of Item the usurer. It is to Grime that Item appeals when he wants to fudge his clients. “Can we do so, Mr. Grime?” brings the stock answer, “Quite impossible, Mr. Item.”—Holcroft, The Deserted Daughter (1784), altered into The Steward.
Grimes (Peter) the drunken thievish son of a steady fisherman. He had a boy, whom he killed by ill-usage, and two others he made away with; but escaped conviction through defect of evidence. As no one would live with him, he turned mad, was lodged in the parish poor-house, confessed his crimes in delirium, and died.—Crabbe, Borough, xxii, (1810).
Grimes´by (Gaffer), an old farmer at Marlborough.—Sir. W. Scott, Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).