noun

grub

GRUB/ɡrʌb/

Food, especially simple or informal fare.

The tray holds simple grub: a sandwich, soup, and an apple.

A simple, hearty informal meal: a thick sandwich, a small bowl of chunky soup, and an apple arranged on a plain cafeteria tray with a paper napkin.

Etymology

Origin uncertain. Both the insect-food connection and an association with bub, “drink,” have been proposed; neither clearly outweighs the other.

In context

Chronicle - Medieval History Documentaries27:57

food. Get them into routine. Here they come again. Yeah, I don't think we should let them out actually at the moment cuz I'm afraid that's what they're after, their grub.

What It Was Like To Live On A Medieval Farm As A Peasant | Tudor Monastery | Chronicle

More examples

We stopped for grub after the hike.
The diner serves hearty grub.
He packed enough grub for the afternoon.

Forms

grub

Similar words

food: Food is neutral rather than informal.
chow: Chow is similarly informal, often suggesting hearty fare.