1853. Bradley, Verdant Green, pt. III., ch. xi. To a University
man, a grind did not possess any reading signification, but a
riding one. In fact, it was a steeple-chase, slightly varying in
its details according to the college that patronised the pastime.
1870. London Figaro, 28 July. The world is a wearisome grind, love,
Nor shirk we our turn at the wheel.
1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. xxv. ‘Isn’t it a great
grind, sir?’ asked Silverbridge. ‘A very great grind, as you call
it. And there may be the grind and not the success. But——’
1880. One and All, 27 Mar., p. 207. Soul-weary of life’s horrid
grind, I long to come to thee.
3. (schools’).—Study; reading up for an examination; also a plodding
student, i.e., a grinder.
1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School Days, pt. II., ch. v. ‘Come along,
boys,’ cries East, always ready to leave the grind, as he called
it.
1887. Chambers’ Jour., 14 May, p. 310. Smalls made just such a goal
as was required, and the grind it entailed was frequently of no
slight profit to him.
4. (medical students’).—A demonstration: as (1) a ‘public grind’ given
to a class and free to all; and (2) a ‘private grind’ for which a
student pays an individual teacher. In America, a quiz (q.v.).