From Middle English graffe, from Old French greffe (“stylus”), from Latin graphium (“stylus”), from Ancient Greek γραφείον (grapheíon), from γράφειν (gráphein, “to write”); probably akin to English carve. So named from the resemblance of a scion or shoot to a pointed pencil. Doublet of graphium. Compare graphic, grammar.
Meanings
A small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in another tree, the stock of which is to support and nourish it. The two unite and become one tree, but the graft determines the kind of fruit.
A branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot.
A portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty.
fi varte (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · fi siirrännäinen (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · de Transplantat (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · ru транспланта́т (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · es enjerto (small shoot or scion) · gl enxerto (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · oc ensèrt (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · sk štep (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · gl esgallo (small shoot or scion) · gl puga (small shoot or scion) · fi varte (small shoot or scion) · es injerto (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · sv transplantat (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · hu oltóág (small shoot or scion) · id hasil pencangkokan (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · fi siirre (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · cs štěp (small shoot or scion) · ca empelt (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · ca empelt (small shoot or scion) · nrf greffe (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · ga beangán (small shoot or scion) · id enten (small shoot or scion) · as কলম (small shoot or scion) · nb pode (small shoot or scion) · id cangkok (small shoot or scion) · ar طُعْم (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · it trapianto (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · sh трансплантат (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · nrf greffe (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · hu oltvány (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · pt enxerto (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · lb Praff (small shoot or scion) · oc empèut (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · sh kàlem (small shoot or scion) · xaa قرة (small shoot or scion) · la insertio (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · ro altoi (small shoot or scion) · nn pode (small shoot or scion) · nrf greffe (small shoot or scion) · nl transplantaat (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · tr aşı (small shoot or scion) · gl enxerto (small shoot or scion) · cmn 接枝 (small shoot or scion) · oc ensèrt (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · ro grefon (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · tr yama (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · fr greffon (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · nl ent (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · it trapianto (small shoot or scion) · sv stickling (small shoot or scion) · pt enxerto (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · oc transplant (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · ru приво́й (small shoot or scion) · bg присад (small shoot or scion) · la insitum (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · sk štep (small shoot or scion) · oc empèut (small shoot or scion) · sv ymp (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · la clāvula (small shoot or scion) · gl enxerto (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · es empeltre (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · nrf ente (small shoot or scion) · es empeltre (small shoot or scion) · es injerto (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · ru приво́й (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · cs roub (small shoot or scion) · nl ent (small shoot or scion) · sh transplantat (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · eo grefto (small shoot or scion) · eo grefto (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · de Pfropfreis (small shoot or scion) · hu oltóvessző (small shoot or scion) · cim bröol (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · bg калем (small shoot or scion) · ca empelt (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · es injerto (small shoot or scion) · oc empèut (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · id setek (small shoot or scion) · el μπόλι (small shoot or scion) · sv ymp (small shoot or scion) · ga beangán (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · nrf ente (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · fr greffon (small shoot or scion) · fr greffe (small shoot or scion) · fr greffon (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · hu átültetett szövet (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty) · oc ensèrt (small shoot or scion) · es enjerto (branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot) · pt enxerto (small shoot or scion) · sh ка̀лем (small shoot or scion) · cs štěp (portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty)
From Middle English graffe, from Old French greffe (“stylus”), from Latin graphium (“stylus”), from Ancient Greek γραφείον (grapheíon), from γράφειν (gráphein, “to write”); probably akin to English carve. So named from the resemblance of a scion or shoot to a pointed pencil. Doublet of graphium. Compare graphic, grammar.
Meanings
(transitive) To insert (a graft) in a branch or stem of another tree; to propagate by insertion in another stock; also, to insert a graft upon.
(intransitive) To insert scions (grafts) from one tree, or kind of tree, etc., into another; to practice grafting.
(transitive) To implant a portion of (living flesh or akin) in a lesion so as to form an organic union.
(transitive) To join (one thing) to another as if by grafting, so as to bring about a close union.
Of course, this was a music cruise, a floating rock festival grafted onto a passenger ship, and a quietly thriving corner of the music and cruise industries. 2012 March 30, Joe Levy, “Rockers at Sea”, in The New York Times:
And graft my love immortal on thy fame! 1717, Alexander Pope, Eloisa to Abelard.:
(transitive) To cover, as a ring bolt, block strap, splicing, etc., with a weaving of small cord or rope yarns.
sh ка̀лемити (to insert a graft in another tree) · hu olt (to insert scions) · gl enxertar (to insert scions) · el εμβολιάζω (to insert a graft in another tree) · nn pode (to insert a graft in another tree) · it innestare (to insert a graft in another tree) · es inserir (to insert a graft in another tree) · de pfropfen (to insert scions) · sk zaštepiť (to insert a graft in another tree) · tr aşılamak (to insert a graft in another tree) · it innestare (to insert scions) · tr aşılamak (to insert scions) · es injerir (to insert a graft in another tree) · nn pote (to insert scions) · cs roubovat (to insert a graft in another tree) · es injertar (to insert a graft in another tree) · oc ensertar (to join as if by grafting) · fi varttaa (to insert a graft in another tree) · sh kàlemiti (to insert a graft in another tree) · ro altoi (to insert a graft in another tree) · oc empeutar (to join as if by grafting) · eo inserti (to implant to form an organic union) · eo inserti (to insert a graft in another tree) · oc transplantar (to implant to form an organic union) · ru приви́ть (to insert a graft in another tree) · es enjertar (to insert a graft in another tree) · es enjertar (to implant to form an organic union) · fi varttaa (to insert scions) · es injertar (to implant to form an organic union) · pt enxertar (to insert scions) · sq shartoj (to insert a graft in another tree) · es injerir (to implant to form an organic union) · fr greffer (to insert a graft in another tree) · nl transplanteren (to implant to form an organic union) · sh нака̀лемити (to insert a graft in another tree) · fa پیوند زدن (to implant to form an organic union) · fi liittää (to join as if by grafting) · sv transplantera (to implant to form an organic union) · ja 接ぐ (to insert a graft in another tree) · ca empeltar (to implant to form an organic union) · pl szczepić (to insert a graft in another tree) · nl enten (to insert scions) · no pode (to insert a graft in another tree) · sv ympa (to insert scions) · nn pode (to insert scions) · fr enter (to insert a graft in another tree) · eo inserti (to insert scions) · oc empeutar (to implant to form an organic union) · fi oksastaa (to form a graft polymer) · fa پیوند زدن (to insert a graft in another tree) · nn pote (to insert a graft in another tree) · bg присаждам (to insert a graft in another tree) · te అంటుకట్టు (to insert a graft in another tree) · oc empeutar (to insert a graft in another tree) · pms enté (to insert a graft in another tree) · nl enten (to join as if by grafting) · oc ensertar (to insert a graft in another tree) · pt enxertar (to insert a graft in another tree) · hy պատվաստել (to insert a graft in another tree) · ru импланти́ровать (to implant to form an organic union) · ang impian (to insert a graft in another tree) · sv ympa (to insert a graft in another tree) · pt enxertar (to implant to form an organic union) · nl enten (to insert a graft in another tree) · pl zaszczepiać (to insert a graft in another tree) · bg ашладисвам (to insert a graft in another tree) · ru привива́ть (to insert a graft in another tree) · ca empeltar (to insert a graft in another tree) · de pfropfen (to insert a graft in another tree) · gl enxertar (to insert a graft in another tree) · pt enxertar (to join as if by grafting) · de transplantieren (to implant to form an organic union) · fi tehdä elinsiirto (to implant to form an organic union) · sh nakàlemiti (to insert a graft in another tree) · es inserir (to implant to form an organic union) · no pode (to insert scions) · oc ensertar (to implant to form an organic union)
From Middle Dutch graft (“canal”), from graven (“dig”). The contemporary senses “depth of digging blade” and “narrow spade” may have a separate history, but this is uncertain. Compare Old English grafet (“trench”), Old Norse grǫft (“the action of digging”). Attested from the 17th century. Doublet of gracht.
Meanings
(obsolete) A ditch, a canal.
The depth of the blade of a digging tool such as a spade or shovel.
[…] in the first operation, we dug through the peat, the hard sand, and gravel, and one spade's graft (about nine inches deep, and seven inches wide) into the quick sand, the whole length of this drain,[…] 1798 [1792], Memoirs of Science and the Arts, Transactions of the Society instituted at London for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, page 117:
Uncertain. Some lexicographers suggest an extended use of Etymology 2, above, expanding from “digging” to work more generally, and from there to dishonest work. Others, however, suggest an extension from Etymology 1, shifting from “a shoot or scion” to the notion of corruption through the idea of excrescence.
Meanings
(uncountable) Corruption in official life.
(uncountable) Illicit profit by corrupt means, especially in public life.
(slang, uncountable) A criminal’s special branch of practice.
(countable) A con job.
(countable, slang) A cut of the take (money).
(US, uncountable) A bribe, especially on an ongoing basis.
If policemen take graft now from the liquor dealers for the privilege of keeping open on Sunday, what is to prevent them, if this bill is passed, from taking graft from the liquor men for the privilege of selling liquor before 1 p.m. on Sunday[…]? 1910, O.R. Miller, The Reform Bulletin:
We had to put in a lot of hard graft to get the job done.
Liz Truss, now the Tory leadership frontrunner, launched an astonishing broadside against British workers, saying they needed “more graft” and suggesting they lacked the “skill and application” of foreign rivals, the Guardian can reveal. 2022 August 16, Pippa Crerar, quoting Liz Truss, “Leaked audio reveals Liz Truss said British workers needed ‘more graft’”, in The Guardian:
fr corruption (corruption in official life) · fi voiteluraha (bribe) · bg подкуп (corruption in official life) · nl specialiteit (criminal's special branch of practice) · fi mädännäisyys (corruption in official life) · fr pot-de-vin (bribe) · nl portie (slang: cut of the take) · oc branca (criminal's special branch of practice) · fi raataminen (hard work) · mi utu whakapati (bribe) · ru подкуп (corruption in official life) · nl branche (criminal's special branch of practice) · fi huijaus (con job) · nl labeur (hard work) · fi voiteluraha (illicit profit by corrupt means, especially in public life) · nl smeergeld (bribe) · pt suborno (bribe) · bg подкуп (bribe) · nl aandeel (slang: cut of the take) · ru моше́нничество (criminal's special branch of practice) · ru взяточничество (corruption in official life) · fi siivu (slang: cut of the take) · sk podiel (slang: cut of the take) · oc corrupcion (corruption in official life) · nl deel (slang: cut of the take) · pt golpe (con job) · hy կաշառակերություն (corruption in official life) · mi whakarīrā (hard work) · oc rama (criminal's special branch of practice) · nl corruptie (corruption in official life) · nl métier (criminal's special branch of practice) · sk úplatok (bribe)
Uncertain. Some lexicographers suggest an extended use of Etymology 2, above, expanding from “digging” to work more generally, and from there to dishonest work. Others, however, suggest an extension from Etymology 1, shifting from “a shoot or scion” to the notion of corruption through the idea of excrescence.
Meanings
(colloquial, intransitive) To work hard.
To obtain illegal gain from bribery or similar corrupt practices.