Graft, graft, v.t. to make an incision in a tree or plant, and insert in it a small branch of another, so as to make a union of the two: to insert in something anything not belonging to it: to incorporate one thing with another: to transplant, as a piece of tissue, from one part to another.—v.i. to insert cuttings into a tree.—n. a small branch used in grafting.—ns. Graft′er; Graft′ing. [O. Fr. graffe (Fr. greffe)—L. graphium—a style or pencil (which the inserted slip resembled)—Gr. graphein, to write.]
Grail, grāl, n. (Spens.) small particles of any kind, as sand. [O. Fr. graile (Fr. grêle), hail—L. gracilis, slender.]
Grail, See Gradual.
Grail, grāl, n. in medieval legend, the Holy Cup used by Christ at the Last Supper. [Orig. the San Greal, 'Holy Dish' (not Sang Real, 'Holy Blood'), in which it is said Joseph of Arimathea collected our Lord's blood; from O. Fr. graal or greal, a flat dish—Low L. gradale, a flat dish, app. a corr. of Low L. cratella, a dim. of crater, a bowl. Diez suggests as the origin a lost cratalis, from cratus, Low L. form of crater.]
Grain, grān, n. a single small hard seed: (coll.) the seeds of certain plants which form the chief food of man: corn, in general: a minute particle: a very small quantity: the smallest British weight, supposed to be the average weight of a seed or well-ripened ear of corn: the arrangement of the particles or fibres of anything, as stone or wood: texture, as of leather: the crimson dye made from cochineal insects, which, in the prepared state, resemble grains of seed—hence to dye in grain is to dye deeply, also to dye in the wool: innate quality or character of anything.—v.t. to form into grains, cause to granulate: to paint in imitation of wood, marble, &c.: in tanning, to take the hair off.—n. Grain′age, duties on grain.—adj. Grained, rough: furrowed.—ns. Grain′er, one who paints in imitation of the grain of wood; Grain′ing, painting so as to imitate the grain of wood: a process in tanning in which the grain of the leather is raised.—adj. Grain′y, having grains or kernels.—Grains of Paradise, an aromatic and pungent seed imported from Guinea.—Against the grain, against the fibre of the wood—hence against the natural temper or inclination; With a grain of salt, with reservation, as of a story that cannot be admitted (L. cum grano salis). [Fr.,—L. granum, seed, akin to corn.]
Grain, grān, n. a prong, fork: a kind of harpoon.
Graining, grān′ing, n. a kind of dace found in the Mersey and in Swiss lakes: a small fish of the same genus, resembling the dace.
Graip, grāp, n. (Scot.) a three or four pronged fork used for lifting dung or digging potatoes. [A form of grope. Cf. Sw. grepe, Dan. greb.]
Graith, grāth, n. apparatus for work, travelling, &c., equipment.—v.t. (Scot.) to make ready, to dress.—adjs. Graith, Grāde, ready, free.—Lift one's graith, to collect one's tools and leave the mine. [Ice. greidhr, ready; cf. A.S. gerǽde, ready.]
Grakle. See Grackle.