grist  (grĭst)  n.
[Middle English, from Old English grīst; see ghrendh- in Indo-European roots.] |
grist for the mill
Something that can be used to advantage, as in These seemingly useless data will be grist for the mill when he lodges a complaint. This expression alludes to grist, the amount of grain that can be ground at one time. [Late 1500s]