gritstone
(ˈgrɪtstəʊn)
In 6–8 usually greet-.
[f. grit n.1 + stone n.]
= grit n.1 2.
| 1555 Eden Decades 328 Albasans (which I thynke to be of that kynde which we caule the greete stone). 1652 French Yorksh. Spa i. 2 Hard greet-Stone (which broken in the middle doth oftentimes very much resemble Loaf-Sugar). 1761 Nat. Hist. in Ann. Reg. 100/2 The loose stones near the summit [of Ingleborough] the people call greet-stones. 1775 Sir E. Barry Observ. Wines 412 The inhabitants on gret-stone are healthier than those on chalk. 1781 J. Hutton Tour to Caves Gloss., Greet-stones, a sort of freestones. 1854 F. C. Bakewell Geol. 31 The lower portion of the hill is surrounded by shale and gritstone. 1885 Law Rep. 14 Q. Bench Div. 196 Gritstone..taken in..certain quarries in Fairfield. |
| attrib. 1789 J. Pilkington View Derbysh. I. 314 Those [sheep] upon gritstone being 3 pounds lighter than those upon limestone land. 1878 Davis & Lees West Yorksh. 14 The moors generally terminate westward in an abrupt gritstone escarpment. |