subs. (Canadian).—1. A member of the colonial Liberal party.
1884. Fortnightly Review, May, 592. There arose up [in Canada] a political party of a Radical persuasion, who were called CLEAR GRITS, and the CLEAR GRITS declared for the secularisation of the Clergy Reserves.
2. (American).—The right sort; having no lack of spirit; unalloyed; decided.
1835–40. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xxxii. I used to think champagne no better nor mean cider … but if you get the CLEAR GRIT there is no mistaking it.
1861. New York Tribune, 10 Oct. Nor do we think the matter much mended by a CLEAR GRIT Republican convention, putting one or two Democrats at the foot of their tickets.
