grind (1874)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

grind, n. 'an excessively diligent student' (HDAS a1889, OED2 1893)

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http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=292517
The Harvard Crimson, January 09, 1874
The inveterate "grind" may pursue his favorite study all day long with no
interruption from noisy neighbors.
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http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=302218
The Harvard Crimson, February 13, 1874
The student who studies only for marks, the conventional "grind," is one
of the poorest products of a college.
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http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=280674
The Harvard Crimson, November 03, 1876
Now, a reflecting man would pronounce at once that such a state of opinion
ought not to exist in "the foremost college in America." He would question
whether the working man does not, after all, get the best of Harvard
culture, and whether the "grind," discountenancing, of course, a too
persistent and unhealthy devotion to study, is not, on the whole, more
worthy of admiration and respect than the "swell." I suspect that much of
our affected contempt for a "dig" is a result of indolence. It is very
convenient for a lazy man to express the opinion that "grinds" and
"grinding" are a bore, but such an opinion, he may be sure, won't in the
end be a paying one.
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--Ben Zimmer