A grip (Dutch “grup”) is a shallow, narrow ditch or channel used to carry water away. Traditionally it is also the channel behind the livestock in a farm byre, into which the dung and urine fall. The word occurs mainly in dialect and in an agricultural and land-drainage context.
The grip in drainage
In earthworks and site layout, a grip is a shallow channel that collects and carries off surface water, for example along a path, field or yard. It is a simple, open form of drainage:
- Surface drainage — carrying rain and meltwater to a ditch or low point
- Field boundary — grips sometimes also mark the boundary between plots
- Limited depth — a grip is shallower than a ditch and often runs dry in dry weather
The grip in the byre
In a traditional tied byre the cattle stand with their heads toward the feed passage and their hindquarters over the grip. The dung channel carries the muck to the slurry pit. Features:
- Dung channel — collects the muck behind the animals
- Fall — a slight slope lets the liquid run away
- Outdated system — largely replaced in modern housing by slatted floors and cubicles
When converting old farm buildings, the grip is still often found as a recessed, tiled or concrete channel in the floor.
Related terms
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