c. 1200, grucchen, "to murmur, complain," from Old French grouchier, grocier "to murmur, to grumble," of unknown origin, perhaps from Germanic, probably ultimately imitative. Meaning "to begrudge" is c. 1400. Compare gruccild (early 13c.) "woman who complains," from grutch + suffix of unknown origin. Related: Grutched; grutching. As a noun from c. 1400.