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Where does the word "grill" come from? It comes from Latin craticula, passing through Old French before entering English (1600s).
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Where does the word "grill" come from? It comes from Latin craticula, passing through Old French before entering English (1600s).
Grill’s story begins in Latin: craticula meant “small gridiron.” A diminutive of 'cratis', wickerwork, the root of 'crate'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as graille. A metal grid for cooking. It reached English by 1600s as grill. 'to grill' someone with questions is 1890s slang. Today, grill means a metal grid for cooking over heat.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient craticula "small gridiron", a diminutive of 'cratis', wickerwork, the root of 'crate'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval graille "gridiron", a metal grid for cooking.
- Stage 3 · English · 1600s grill "gridiron", 'to grill' someone with questions is 1890s slang.