Grist
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2008-06-08T05:32:01Z
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/* In Software */
:''For the publication, see'' [[Grist Magazine]].
'''Grist''' is [[grain]] that has been separated from its [[chaff]] in preparation for grinding. It can also mean grain that has been ground at a [[grist mill]]. Its [[etymology]] derives from the verb ''[[grind]].''
Grist can be ground into meal or [[flour]], depending on how coarsely it is ground. [[Maize]] made into grist is called [[grits]] when it is coarse, and [[corn meal]] when it is finely ground. [[Wheat]], [[oats]], [[barley]], and [[buckwheat]] are also ground and sifted into flour and [[farina (food)|farina]].
Grist is also used in [[brewing]] and [[distillation]] to make a mash.
== “Grist for the mill” ==
The [[proverb]] “all is grist for the mill” means “everything can be made useful, or be a source of profit.” There are some minor variations, such as "all's grist that comes to my/his/her mill", meaning that the person in question can make something positive out of anything that comes along.
A [[miller]] ground whatever grain was brought to him, and charged a portion of the final product for the service. Therefore, all grain arriving at the mill represented income, regardless of its quality. The first recorded usage was in the sixteenth century, but the term is probably much older. The term “[[gristmill]]” was once common in the [[United States]] and [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Britain]] to describe a small mill open to all comers.
== Software ==
The term '''grist''' in software interpreters (such as a [[Unix shell]]) refers to the addition of characters before and/or after a parameter to ensure uniqueness to the interpreter. For example, in a UNIX shell if there is a file named "-f" in the current directory, the following command:
<code>> rm -f</code>
Will not work because "-f" is interpreted as an option to the "rm" command. Rather, one needs to "add grist" to get the appropriate behavior:
<code>> rm ./-f</code>
In this case, "./" is grist because it prevents "-f" from being interpreted as an option.
==See also==
*[[Gristmill]]
==References==
*Quinion Michael (4 July 1996). [http://www.worldwidewords.org/articles/miller.htm The Miller's Tale.] via World Wide Words.
[[Category:Cereals]]
[[Category:Interpreters (computing)]]
[[simple:Grist]]