Definition of grainy

The word "grainy" has its roots in Old French and Latin. The term "graine" was used to describe the small, individual particles of sand, dust, or sediment. In the 14th century, this word was borrowed into Middle English as "grian" or "gryne", which referred to the texture or structure of something that was composed of small particles. In the sense of describing a visual quality, "grainy" emerged in the 17th century. At that time, it referred to the fine, grain-like texture of a painting or drawing. Later, in photography and film, "grainy" referred to the texture or pattern of individual light-sensitive grains on film or video, which could affect the overall image quality. Today, "grainy" is commonly used to describe not just visual textures but also sound and even emotions, implying a sense of roughness or coarseness.