1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School Days, pt. II., ch. vii. ‘The thing to find out,’ said Tom meditatively, ‘is how long one ought to grind at a sentence without looking at the crib.’
2. (University).—To teach; to instruct; to coach (q.v.).
3. (common).—To do a round of hard and distasteful work; to apply oneself to daily routine.
1880. Punch, 5 June, p. 253. ‘Fred on Pretty Girls and Pictures.’ And the pars in the Scanmag—he does them—are proper, and chock full of ‘go.’ Only paper I care to grind though.
4. (venery).—To copulate.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Grind, s.v.
5. trans. (American).—To vex; to ‘put out.’
1879. W. D. Howells, Lady of the Aroostook, ch. vii. After all, it does grind me to have lost that money!
Also grinding = (1) the act of reading or studying hard; (2) the act or occupation of preparing students, for an examination; and (3) the act of copulation.
On the grind, subs. phr. (venery).—Said of incontinent persons of both sexes. Also of prostitutes.