Gruel
/ˈɡruː.əl/noun
A thin liquid food made by boiling oatmeal or other cereals in milk or water.
Did you know?In medieval times, gruel was often a staple for the poor, symbolizing both sustenance and the grinding poverty of the era.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰrend-
“to grind or crush”
Old English
Old English
grūel
“a thin porridge or broth made from meal”
Middle English
Middle English
gruwel
“a watery dish made from boiled grain”
14th Century
Old French
gruel
“a thin soup or broth, typically for the poor”
Modern English
English
gruel
“a simple, liquid food made from boiled grains, often associated with poverty and sustenance”