GRUBSTREET Meaning and
Definition
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Grubstreet, also spelled as Grub Street, is a term derived from the name of a street in London, England, historically associated with lower-class writers and impoverished intellectuals. It is often used to refer to a type of literary production characterized by low-quality, sensationalistic, or hackneyed writing, and is synonymous with the notion of a literary forger or hack writer.
The term originated from the impoverished and destitute conditions of the writers and scholars who resided in the area of Grub Street during the 17th and 18th centuries. Their works were usually produced on demand, aiming to earn a meager income rather than achieve artistic or literary excellence. Consequently, "grubstreet" came to represent poorly written and salacious literature lacking in depth or creative merit.
Over time, the term has evolved to encompass broader connotations, referring to any literary work or style that is considered shallow, derivative, or inferior. It serves as a way to criticize or dismiss writing that lacks originality, depth of thought, or overall literary merit. Today, "grubstreet" can be used as a pejorative term in literary circles to denounce commercial or formulaic writing.
However, it should be noted that the term is often used in a tongue-in-cheek manner, recognizing the historical context and applying it humorously to contemporary situations.
Common Misspellings for GRUBSTREET
- frubstreet
- vrubstreet
- brubstreet
- hrubstreet
- yrubstreet
- trubstreet
- geubstreet
- gdubstreet
- gfubstreet
- gtubstreet
- g5ubstreet
- g4ubstreet
- grybstreet
- grhbstreet
- grjbstreet
- gribstreet
- gr8bstreet
- gr7bstreet
- gruvstreet
- grunstreet
Etymology of GRUBSTREET
The word "grubstreet" originated from the name of a street in London, England, called "Grub Street". This street was located in the Moorfields area and was known for its numerous impoverished and low-status writers and publishers during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The term "grub" in "Grub Street" is believed to have derived from the Middle English word "grubben", which means to dig or to scrape, often referring to working hard or laboring. This association with hard work and toiling reflects the difficult and impoverished lives of the writers and printers who inhabited the street.
Due to the reputation of the writers on Grub Street as being poor and producing low-quality literature, the term "Grub Street" eventually became a metaphor for hackneyed or mediocre literary work. It is often used today to describe unoriginal or second-rate writing or journalism.
