Grime
/ɡraɪm/noun
A thick layer of dirt or filth.
Did you know?The term 'grime' originally referred to a layer of soot, often associated with the soot-covered environments of medieval cities, connecting it to the darker aspects of industrialization and urban life.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
grima
“mask or specter, evoking a sense of horror or filth.”
Middle English
ME
grime
“thick dirt or soot, often connoting a sinister presence.”
14th Century
Middle English
grym
“a term used for foul or unpleasant substances.”
Modern English
English
grime
“the accumulated dirt or filth, often associated with neglect or decay.”