gridiron

gridiron · noun¹

1. Middle English · derived fromgridel“griddle”
2. Middle English · inherited fromgridirne
3. English todaygridiron

From Middle English gridirne, gredirne, gredyron, gredeyron, grydern, grydyryne, girdirin, girderen, variants of Middle English gredire, gredyre, itself an alteration of Middle English gridel (“griddle”). The ending was assimilated to iron, as if from grid + iron, whence grid was later derived.

gridiron · noun, verb²

From resembling the shape of a gridiron (a square rectilinear grid).

First known use, by meaning

• from 13th c. An instrument of torture on which people were secured before being burned by fire.
• from 14th c. An iron rack or grate used for broiling meat and fish over coals.
• from 15th c. Any object resembling the rack or grate.
• from 19th c. The field on which American football is played.