Definition of "gravel"

The great use of coffee in France is supposed to have abated the prevalency of the gravel, for where coffee is used as a constant beverage, the gravel and the gout are scarcely known.

1848, J. S. Skinner & Son, editor, The Plough, The Loom and the Anvil‎, volume I, Philadelphia: J. S. Skinner & Son, page 137

The defendant below hired the horse to go from Cocksackie to Schodack, and the next day after his arrival at the latter place, the horse was found to be lame in one foot; and the lameness increasing, the defendant below was obliged to leave the horse there, and hire another with which to return. About four weeks after, the horse was brought home, and showed signs of gravel working out above the hoof.

1817, William Johnson, editor, Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Judicature, E. F. Backus, page 211

'Looks like pus in the foot to me.''I'll bet you're right,' Farnon said. 'They call it gravel around here, by the way. What do you suggest we do about it?'

1972, James Herriot, All Creatures Great and Small, St. Martin's Press, page 22

A malady that was rare, but which because of its peculiarity elicited much comment, was "night blindness" or "gravel."

1943, Bell Irvin Wiley, The Life of Johnny Reb: The Common Soldier of the Confederacy, The Bobbs-Merrill Company, page 255

We kept quietly on our way until we reached a place in the road that had been freshly graveled, and where the surface was covered with stones just suited to our use.

1905, John F. Hume, The Abolitionists‎

It graveled me like sixty to pay such a price, but I had to do it because the season was just between hay and grass.

1922, Herbert Quick, Vandemark's Folly‎

William Conqerour when he invaded this Iland, chanced at his arrival to be gravelled, and one of his feet stuck so fast in the sand, that he fell to the ground.

1605, William Camden, “Grave Speeches and wittie Apothegms of worthy Personages of this Realm in former times,” in Remaines Concerning Britain, London: Simon Miller, sixth impression, 1657, p. 243

The physician was so gravelled and amazed withal, that he had not a word more to say.

1579, Sir Thomas North, tr., Plutarch's Lives, The Life of Marcus Antonius

When you were gravelled for lack of matter.

c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)]

[…] I arrived at a spot where I was completely gravelled, and could go no farther one way or the other; […]

1830, Joseph Plumb Martin, “Ch. VIII”, in A Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier