gruelling

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Very difficult or taxing; exhausting; backbreaking.

   Diggle Station lies high up in the Pennine Chain, subject to extreme low temperatures. With this and heavy snowfall in the winter months, Diggle bids fair to compete with the Scottish lines under similar weather conditions, and the provision of unfrozen water in the higher ambient temperature of the tunnel must be a boon to harassed engine drivers whose thirsty steeds run short of water up the gruelling 1 in 125 seven-mile climb from Stalybridge.

2. 2
   noun

   A race in which the animal being raced finishes in a state of physical exhaustion.

   The expenses are considerably reduced, and one or two men are prevented from carrying off nearly all the races ; for though " the spirit" may be ever so " willing," the " flesh is weak," and cannot stand more than five or six gruellings in a single day.

3. 3
   noun

   A gruelling ordeal.

   It was the hardest fighting that our Canadians have been up against, and the manner in which they took these terrible gruellings and assaults is one of the most creditable occurrences in the annals of this great war."

4. 4
   adj

   characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion

5. 5
   verb

   present participle and gerund of gruel

Etymology

From present participle of gruel (“to exhaust, punish”), from gruel (noun).