grudge

The story

1. Old Frenchgrouchier, groucier
2. Middle Englishgrucchen
3. Englishgrutch
4. English todaygrudge

A variant of grutch (mid 15th-century, younger than begrudge), from Middle English grucchen (“to murmur, complain, feel envy, begrudge”), from Old French grouchier, groucier (“to murmur, grumble”), of Germanic origin, probably ultimately imitative. Akin to Middle High German grogezen (“to howl, wail”), German grocken (“to croak”). Compare also Old Norse krytja (“to murmur”), Old High German grunzen (“to grunt”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 16th c. To be unwilling to give or allow (someone something).
• 15th–18th c. To grumble, complain; to be dissatisfied.