What does "gruesome" mean?

Gruesome: , Grue"some, a. Etym: [From a word akin to Dan. gru horror, terror + -some; cf. D. gruwzaam, G. grausam. Cf. Grisly.] Ugly; frightful. Grewsome sights of war. C. Kingsley.

Additional senses

  1. 2.Same as Grewsome. [Scot.]

Sources