subs. (American).—A large number or quantity. [Swift uses GRIST = a supply; a provision.]
1848. COOPER, The Oak-Openings, iii. There ’s … an onaccountable GRIST on ’em [bees], I can tell you.
c. 1852. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), ed. Traits of American Humour, i., 305. I … got pretty considerable soaked by a GRIST of rain.
TO BRING GRIST TO THE MILL, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To bring profitable business; to be a source of profit.
1727. Jerman’s Almanack, May.
| If lawyers’ pleading do refrain | |
| A little while, they’ll to ’t again; | |
| Let what weather come what will, | |
| Strife brings GRIST unto their MILL. |
1770. FOOTE, The Lame Lover, i. Well, let them go on, it brings GRIST TO OUR MILL.
1804. S. HORSLEY, Speech, 23 July. A sly old pope created twenty new saints, TO BRING GRIST TO THE MILL of the London clergy.
1817. SCOTT, Ivanhoe, ii., ii. Some three or four dried pease,—a miserable GRIST at it seemed for so large and able a MILL.
1838. DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby, ch. xxxiv., p. 268. Meantime, the fools BRING GRIST TO MY MILL.
