Grisly
/ˈɡrɪz.li/noun
Causing horror or intense fear; gruesome.
Did you know?The word comes from Old English roots meaning “dreadful” or “terrible,” and it was used long before modern horror culture to describe things that inspired real fear.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*grīs-
“To shudder, fear, or feel horror”
Old English
OE
grīslic
“Terrible, dreadful, awful”
Middle English
ME
grisly
“Causing horror or dread”
Modern English
English
grisly
“Causing horror or intense fear; gruesome”