Grunt (grŭnt), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Grunted; p. pr. & vb.
n. Grunting.] [OE. grunten; akin to As.
grunian, G. grunzen, Dan. grynte, Sw.
grymta; all prob. of imitative; or perh. akin to E.
groan.] To make a deep, short noise, as a hog; to utter a
short groan or a deep guttural sound.
Who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life.
Shak.
Grunting ox (Zoöl.), the
yak.
Grunt (grŭnt), n.
1. A deep, guttural sound, as of a
hog.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of several
species of American food fishes, of the genus Hæmulon,
allied to the snappers, as, the black grunt (A. Plumieri),
and the redmouth grunt (H. aurolineatus), of the Southern
United States; -- also applied to allied species of the genera
Pomadasys, Orthopristis, and Pristopoma. Called
also pigfish, squirrel fish, and grunter; -- so
called from the noise it makes when taken.