Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 13:34:26 -0400
From: Alan Baragona
Subject: Re: modern use of "gruntled"

At 10:08 AM 4/14/98 -0700, A. Vine wrote:
>From the Word du jour email dl:
>
>gruntled (GRUN-tl'd) (adj.)
>
> -Definitions(s): 1. pleased; satisfied; contented (the opposite of
> *disgruntled*)
>
snip
>
>Can anyone confirm P.G. Wodehouse as the origin of the modern use of this
term?
>
>Andrea
>

OED2 online gives the Wodehouse as the earliest citation, and not another
one until the 1960's. Here's the entry:

gruntled grA.nt'ld, ppl. a. [Back-formation f. disgruntled a.] Pleased,
satisfied, contented.

1938 Wodehouse Code of Woosters i. 9 He spoke with a certain
what-is-it in his voice, and I could see that, if not actually
disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.

1962 C. Rohan Delinquents 76 Come on, Brownie darling, be
gruntled.

1966 New Statesman 11 Nov. 693/2 An action against a barrister
for negligence..would open the door to every disgruntled client.
Now gruntled clients are rare in the criminal courts.

1967 E. McGirr Hearse with Horses i. 17 The Agency has a nice
file of gruntled exes who have found their talents in a great variety
of jobs.

Alan B.