Old English grytt; related to Old High German gruzzi; see great, grit
grits in American English
(grɪts)
US
plural noun
corn or other grain, soybeans, etc. ground more coarsely than for flour or meal; esp., in the South, hominy ground coarsely: grits are eaten as porridge, as a side dish, and in casseroles
Word origin
ME gryttes (pl.) < OE grytte, akin to Ger grütze: for IE base see grit