grandfather

   Used to the father of the speaker’s father or mother. The ‘grand’ is a direct borrowing from French, where grandpère, grandmère indicate the relationship once removed. Grand is translated into English for relationships such as great-aunt, great-uncle. In The Exhibitionist, by Henry Sutton, occurs:

   When they did speak, they addressed each other formally, as ‘Grandfather’ and ‘Grandson’, being very careful not to blur the definition of the relationship. Or, on rare occasions, they would relax the merest hairbreadth, so that Sam would say ‘Thank you, sir,’ and Amos would answer ‘You’re welcome, boy.’

   Charles Dickens, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, has: ‘“Samivel Veller, sir,” said the old gentleman, “has con-ferred upon me the ancient title o‘grand-father vich had long laid dormouse, and was s’posed to be nearly hex-tinct, in our family”.’