The BFD Word of the Day

The word for today is…

grisly (adjective):
1 : inspiring horror or intense fear
2 : inspiring disgust or distaste

Source : Merriam -Webster

Etymology : An angry grizzly bear could certainly inspire fear, so “grizzly” must be a variant of “grisly,” right? Yes and no. The adjective “grisly” is indeed sometimes spelled “grizzly,” but the “grizzly” in “grizzly bear” is a different animal altogether. Grisly derives from an Old English predecessor, “grislic,” which is itself related to an Old English verb meaning “to fear.” “Grizzly” comes from the Middle English adjective grisel, meaning “gray.” Like its close relative “grizzled,” this grizzly means “sprinkled or streaked with gray.” In other words, the grizzly got its name because the hairs of its brownish to buff coat usually have silver or pale tips, creating a grizzled effect, not because it causes terror. The misperception that the bear’s name reflects its reputed fierceness probably contributed to the development of the “grizzly” variant of “grisly.”

If you enjoyed this BFD word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends and, especially, your children.