1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxxi. Here Mr. Jackson smiled once more upon the company; and, applying his left thumb to the tip of his nose, worked a visionary coffee-mill with his right hand, thereby performing a very graceful piece of pantomime (then much in vogue, but now, unhappily, almost obsolete) which was familiarly denominated taking a grinder. 1870. Athenæum, 8 July. ‘Rev. of Comic Hist. of United States.’ He finds himself confronted by a plumed and lightly-clad Indian, who salutes him with what street-boys term a grinder. Grinding-house, subs. (old).—1. The House of Correction. For synonyms, see Cage. 1614. Terence in English. The fellow is worthy to be put into the grinding-house. 2. (venery).—A brothel. For synonyms, see Nanny-shop. [Grinding-tool = the penis.] Grinding-mill, subs. (common).—The house of a tutor or Coach (q.v.) where students are prepared for an examination. Grind-off (or Grindo), subs. (common).—A miller. [From a character in The Miller and his Men.] Grindstone, subs. (common).—1. A tutor; a coach (q.v.). 2. (venery).—The female pudendum. To bring (hold, put, or keep) one’s nose to the grindstone, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To oppress, harass, or punish; to treat harshly. To have one’s nose kept to the grindstone = to be held to a bargain, or at work. 1578. North, Plutarch, p. 241. They might be ashamed, for lack of courage, to suffer the Lacedæmonians to hold their noses to the grindstone. 1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Hold. Hold his nose to the grindstone, to keep him Under, or Tie him Neck and Heels in a Bargain. To have the grindstone on his back, verb. phr. (common).—Said of a man going to fetch the monthly nurse.—Grose. Grinning-stitches, subs. (milliners’).—Slovenly sewing; stitches wide apart; ladders (q.v.). Grip (or Gripsack), subs. (American).—A hand-bag or satchell. To lose one’s grip, verb. phr. (American).—To fail; to lose one’s control. Gripe, subs. (old).—1. A miser; a usurer. Also Griper or Gripe-fist (q.v.). For synonyms, see Hunks and Sixty-per-cent. Griping = extortion. 1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Gripe, or griper, s.v. An old covetous wretch. Also a banker, money scrivener, or usurer. 2. in. pl. (colloquial).—The colic; the stomach ache; the Collywobbles. For synonyms, see Jerry-go-nimble. 1684. Bunyan, Pilgr. Prog., Pt. II. He concluded that he was sick of the gripes. 1705. Char. of a Sneake, in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), ii., 356. He never looks upon her Majesty’s arms but semper eadem gives him the gripes. 1714. Spectator, No 559. Meeting the true father, who came towards him with a fit of the gripes, he begged him to take his son again, and give back his cholic. 1812. Coombe, Tour in Search of Picturesque, c. xxvi. That he who daily smokes two pipes, The tooth-ache never has—nor gripes.