Etymology Map
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Grill

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a metal grid for cooking over heat

Where does the word "grill" come from? It comes from Latin craticula, passing through Old French before entering English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
craticula
Latin · ancient
"small gridiron"
a diminutive of 'cratis', wickerwork, the root of 'crate'
2
Stage 2 of 3
graille
Old French · medieval
"gridiron"
a metal grid for cooking
3
Stage 3 of 3
grill
English · 1600s
"gridiron"
'to grill' someone with questions is 1890s slang
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Read the full story

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.