Grizel
(ˈgrɪzəl)
Also 6 Gressell, 6–7 Grissell, 7 Grissil(l, grizell, Grisel, 8–9 grizzle, 9 Grizzel.
Later form of the proper name Grisilde (= Griseldis, Griselda), borne by the heroine of Chaucer's Clerk's Tale (adapted from a story of Petrarch's), who is the proverbial type of a meek, patient wife.
| [c 1386 Chaucer Clerk's T. 1126 No wedded man so hardy be tassaille His wyves pacience, in hope to fynde Grisildes, for in certein he shal faille.] 1565–6 Stationers' Reg. (Arb.) I. 132 b, The songge of pacyente Gressell vnto hyr make. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. ii. i. 297 For patience shee will proue a second Grissell. 1624 Heywood Captives iv. i. in Bullen O. Pl. IV, Have patience woman, I have ben too longe a grizell. 1766 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1792) III. 192 He had married five shrews in succession, and made Grizels of every one of them before they died. 1797 A. M. Bennett Beggar Girl (1813) III. 19 The pounds and pounds she paid the doctor was enough to make a grizzle fret. [a 1849 M. Edgeworth (title) The Modern Griselda. 1885 Brewer Reader's Handbk. s.v., Octavia, the wife of Mark Antony, and sister of Augustus, is called the ‘patient Grizel of Roman story’.] |
Hence ˈgrizel v. trans., to make a Grizel of.
| a 1797 M. Wollstonecraft Posth. Wks. (1798) II. 78, I had afterwards an opportunity of observing the treatment she had to endure, which grizzled her into patience. |