grizzly (adj.)

"somewhat gray," 1590s, from grizzle "gray-colored" + -y (1). Also see grizzled. Grizzly bear (ursus horribilis) for the large ferocious bear of the western U.S., is recorded by 1806; sometimes said to belong rather to grisly (q.v.), but either adjective suits it.

Entries linking to grizzly

grizzle (adj.)

"gray-colored," mid-14c., from Old French grisel "gray" (see grizzled) which also meant "gray-haired old man; gray horse" (senses recorded in Middle English from mid-14c.). The verb, "to make gray," is attested from 1740.

-y (1)

noun suffix, in army, city, country, etc., from Old French -e, Latin -atus, -atum, past participle suffix of certain verbs, which in French came to be used to indicate "employment, office, dignity" (as in duché, clergié).

grizzled

grisly

See all related words (4) >

Share grizzly

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/grizzly

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/grizzly">Etymology of grizzly by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of grizzly. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/grizzly

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of grizzly,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/grizzly.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of grizzly.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/grizzly. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of grizzly.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/grizzly (accessed $(datetime)).

Definitions of grizzly

grizzly (n.)

powerful brownish-yellow bear of the uplands of western North America;

Synonyms: grizzly bear / silvertip / silver-tip / Ursus horribilis / Ursus arctos horribilis

grizzly (adj.)

showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair; "whose beard with age is hoar"-Coleridge;

Synonyms: grey / gray / grey-haired / gray-haired / grey-headed / gray-headed / hoar / hoary / white-haired

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near grizzly

grit

grits

gritty

grizzle

grizzled

grizzly

groan

groaner

groaning

groat

groats