1714. Spectator, No 559. Meeting the true father, who came towards him with a fit of the gripes, he begged him to take his son again, and give back his cholic.
1812. Coombe, Tour in Search of Picturesque, c. xxvi. That he who daily smokes two pipes, The tooth-ache never has—nor gripes.
Gripe-fist, subs. (common).—A miser; a grasping broker. For synonyms, see Hunks. Also Gripe-penny.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Grist, subs. (American).—A large number or quantity. [Swift uses grist = a supply; a provision.]
1848. Cooper, Oak Openings. There’s an unaccountable grist of bees, I can tell you.
a. 1852. Traits of American Humour, i., 305. I … got pretty considerable soaked by a grist of rain.
To bring grist to the mill, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To bring profitable business; to be a source of profit.
1719. Poor Robin’s Almanack, May. Lawyers pleading do refrain A while, and then fall to ’t again; Strife brings grist unto their mill.
1770. Foote, Lame Lover, i. Well, let them go on, it brings grist to our mill.