▪ I. † gran1 Obs. rare—1.
[? Short for grandfather; cf. gaffer.]
A jocular term for a rustic.
| 1592 Greene Conny Catching ii. 4 Meanely attired like some plaine gran of the Countrey. |
▪ II. gran2
(græn)
A childish or familiar shortening of granny or grandmother.
| 1863 Dickens in All Year Round 3 Dec. 11/2 And now dear Gran let me kneel down here where I have been used to say my prayers. 1890 E. Lytton Let. 16 Apr. in E. Lutyens Blessed Girl (1953) iii. 29 Mother had a telegram last night to say that Gran is dead. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 8 Feb. 12/3 People say it was just because Gran lived so vividly that she flickered out like a candle come midsummer. Ibid., The lady who received the Grans. 1960 R. Daniel Death by Drowning iii. 40 By the time she gets back to ‘Mum’ and ‘Gran’ she'll be wet through. 1960 Sunday Express 10 July 15/5 There is Gran Tatlock, tired and crusty after bringing up a family of 11. |
▪ III. gran
obs. form of groan v.