Old English grippan "to grip, seize, obtain" (class I strong verb; past tense grap, past participle gripen), from West Germanic *gripjan (cognates: Old High German gripfen "to rob," Old English gripan "to seize;" see gripe). Related: Gripped; gripping. French gripper "to seize," griffe "claw" are Germanic loan-words.

fusion of Old English gripe "grasp, clutch" and gripa "handful, sheaf" (see grip, v.). Meaning "stage hand" is from 1888, from their work shifting scenery.