subs. (common).—A pattern of discontent: one ever on the grumble. [Grumbleton (during the reigns of the later Stuarts) = an imaginary centre of discontent; hence, GRUMBLETONIAN, a nickname of the County party, distinguished from the Court, as being in opposition.]

1

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew. GRUMBLETONIANS, malecontents, out of Humour with the Government, for want of a Place, or having lost one.

2

  1705–7.  WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. I., pt. 1, p. 24 (2nd ed.).

        But all the GRUMBLETONIAN throng
Did with such violence rush along.

3

  1773.  GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, Act i., Sc. 2. Now, if I pleased, I could be so revenged upon the old GRUMBLETONIAN.

4

  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. GRUMBLETONIAN. A discontented person.

5

  1849–61.  MACAULAY, The History of England, ch. xix. Who were sometimes nicknamed the GRUMBLETONIANS, and sometimes honoured with the appellation of the County party.

6