1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School Days, pt. II., ch. v. ‘Come along, boys,’ cries East, always ready to leave the grind, as he called it.
1887. Chambers’ Jour., 14 May, p. 310. Smalls made just such a goal as was required, and the grind it entailed was frequently of no slight profit to him.
4. (medical students’).—A demonstration: as (1) a ‘public grind’ given to a class and free to all; and (2) a ‘private grind’ for which a student pays an individual teacher. In America, a quiz (q.v.).
5. (Oxford University).—Athletic sports. Also, a training run.
1872. Chambers’ Jour., April. Joe Rullock, the mighty gymnasiarch, the hero of a hundred grinds, the unwearied haunter of the palæstra, could never give the lie to his whole past life, and deny his own gymnastics.
6. (venery).—An act of sexual intercourse: e.g., To do a grind. [Mill and grindstone (venery) = the female pudendum.] For synonyms, see Greens and Ride.
1598. Florio, A Worlde of Wordes. Macinio, the grinding of grist. Also taken for carnal copulation.
1647. Ladies Parliament. Digbie’s lady takes it ill, that her Lord grinds not at her mill. [[216]]
The grind, subs. phr. (Cambridge University).—The ferry-boat at Chesterton.
Verb. (University).—1. To prepare for examination to study: to read.