O.E. grippan "to grip" (class I strong verb; past tense grap, pp. gripen), from W.Gmc. *gripjan (cf. O.H.G. gripfen), from root of
gripe (q.v.). The noun developed from fusion of O.E. gripe "grasp, clutch" and gripa "handful, sheaf." Meaning "stage hand" is from 1888, from