Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1720-1993
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GRIST, n.2, v.2 Also †girst.
I. n. 1. The size or thickness of yarn, (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 243; Uls. 1900 E.D.D.; Abd., Ayr., s.Sc. 1955). Gen. in textile areas.Sc. 1720 Grievances of the poor Commonality 71:
You will know by the Grist of the Yarn, if it could have been so many Ells of sufficient Cloth.Edb. 1739 Caled. Mercury (8 May):
Whoever shows the next best 4 Spinnel of the same Girst, shall have Two fine Linnen Neck-Napkins.Abd. 1750 Aberdeen Jnl. (21 Aug.):
Merchant in Aberdeen gives out Flax to spin of all sorts of Grists from sixteen heirs, to nine or ten Slips in the Pound.Ork. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 V. 408:
The common grist of the cloth is from 900 to 1200, and some have exceeded 1800 [see Hunder].Lnk. 1808 W. Watson Poems 73:
Four drogget coats, I trow the grist O them is gayen sma' O.Gsw. 1852 Glasgow Past & Present (1884) II. 70:
Whereas the East India yarns manufactured into muslins being of various grists, part of the cloth appeared of a fine fabric, while another part of the same cloth seemed quite coarse.Rxb. 1868 Hawick Advert. (18 April):
It was of the same grists. Nobody in Hawick makes similar yarn.Sc. 1944 Sc. Woollens (June):
The "count" itself is by the number of yards of thread to the pound and is stated as the number of hanks of 560 yards to which a pound of wool can be spun. Incidentally, the word "grist" is usually substituted in Scotland for count.
2. Extended to mean size, girth, in gen. (Sc. 1818 Sawers); strength, force (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), quality, "proper make or quality, as 'that's about the right grist'" (Uls.2 1929). Also in s.Don. and w.Yks. dial.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 34:
Here is the true an' faithfu' list O' Noblemen and Horses; Their eild, their weight, their height, their grist.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Meal is also said to be of a certain grist, according to the particular size of the grains.Lnk. 1853 W. Watson Poems 81:
'Tis no for the breadth o' the ocean, 'Tis no for the girst o' the wave.Ork. 1911 Old-Lore Misc. IV. iv. 186:
Hid wasna at he wanted tae tissle an' fecht wi' ony an' let him be, bit itherways — dan let them try da grist o' him!Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Of someone who has caught hold of you firmly — "I can feel the grist of him yet."Ork.5 1955:
"The grist is worn aff hid," said of something which has lost its new look and become dull or shabby.
II. v. To judge, to guess; "to guess the weight, size, or temperature of a thing without actually weighing or measuring" (Uls. 1900 E.D.D.).Uls. 1901 North. Whig:
The wife, who never likes to see a man without a turn to do, was on fo' me helping with the churn, but we gristed et that ill that I had on'y done in time to hear the hinder end of the case.Uls. 1993:
Never mind the scales, I'll jist grist it.
