grey area noun

1. An area between two extremes, having (mingled) characteristics of both of them
2. A situation in which there are no clear-cut distinctions
3. An area relatively high in unemployment but not classed as a development area (qv)

greyˈbeard noun

1. A person whose beard is grey
2. An old man
3. A stoneware jar for liquor, a bellarmine

greyˈ-coat noun

1. A person who wears a grey coat, esp a pupil in certain schools
2. A Confederate soldier

adjective

Of or relating to a grey-coat

greyˈ-coated adjective

grey economy noun

Unofficial or unusual economic activity not reflected in official information and statistics

grey eminence see éminence grise

greyˈ-eyed adjective

greyˈ-fish noun

1. A dogfish (US)
2. A young coalfish (Scot)

Grey Friar noun

(also without caps) a Franciscan

grey goose noun

The greylag goose

grey-goose quill, grey-goose shaft or grey-goose wing noun (archaic)

An arrow

grey-hairedˈ or grey-headˈed adjective

greyˈhen noun

The female of the black grouse (see under black)

grey knight noun (stock exchange sl)

A third party that makes a counteroffer to buy a company that is subject to an unwanted takeover bid without making its own ultimate intentions clear

greyˈlag or greylag goose noun

A large greyish European goose (Anser anser) (perhaps from its lateness in migrating)

grey literature noun

Material published non-commercially, eg government reports

grey mare see under mare¹

grey market noun

1. The unofficial and often secret, but not necessarily illegal, selling of goods, etc alongside or in addition to an official or open market
2. A financial market trading in shares not yet officially listed

grey matter noun

1. The ashen-grey active part of the brain and spinal cord
2. Intelligence or common sense (informal)

greyˈ-out noun (aeronautics)

A mild or less severe (physical) blackout

grey owl noun

The tawny owl

grey parrot noun

A red-tailed grey African parrot

greyˈscale noun and adjective (TV and computing)

(of or relating to) a scale consisting of different shades of the colour grey

grey seal noun

A type of seal that populates N Atlantic coastal waters

grey squirrel noun

A N American squirrel naturalized in Britain

greyˈstone noun

A grey volcanic rock

grey water noun

Waste water from domestic sinks, baths and showers, that can be reused without purification (cf black water)

grey-wethˈer noun

A grey-coloured, rounded block of sandstone or quartzite, a relic of denudation, looking from a distance like a grazing sheep

grey whale noun

A grey baleen whale, Eschrichtius glaucus, with a mottled skin often disfigured by patches of barnacles

grey wolf noun

The N American timber wolf

the Greys

The Scots Greys (see under Scots)