Word Study
gruel
CIDE DICTIONARY
gruel, n. [OF. gruel, F. gruau; of German origin; cf. OHG. gruzzi groats, G. grÜtze, As. gr. See Grout.].
A light, liquid food, made by boiling meal of maize, oatmeal, or flour in water or milk; thin porridge. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
gruel, n. a liquid food of oatmeal etc. boiled in milk or water chiefly for invalids.
Etymology
ME f. OF, ult. f. Gmc, rel. to GROUT(1)
THESAURUS
gruel
albumen, batter, bonnyclabber, breakfast food, butter, cambric tea, cereal, clabber, cobweb, cornflakes, cornstarch, cream, curd, dishwater, dough, dry cereal, egg white, farina, frumenty, gaum, gel, gelatin, glair, glop, glue, gluten, goo, gook, goop, gossamer, grits, gumbo, gunk, hair, hasty pudding, hominy grits, hot cereal, house of cards, jam, jell, jelly, kasha, lath, loblolly, matchwood, mere shadow, milk and water, millet, molasses, mucilage, mucus, mush, oatmeal, pap, paper, paste, porridge, pudding, puffed rice, puffed wheat, pulp, puree, putty, rail, rake, reed, rob, rolled oats, rope of sand, sand castle, semifluid, semiliquid, shadow, shaving, size, skeleton, slat, slip, soup, splinter, starch, sticky mess, streak, syrup, thread, treacle, vein, wafer, water, wheatflakesFor further exploring for "gruel" in Webster Dictionary Online
