gruntle: cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of [syn: pacify, lenify, conciliate, assuage, appease, mollify, placate, gentle]
—wordnet.princeton.edu
grun·tle Function: transitive verb Inflected Form(s): grun·tled; grun·tling Etymology: back-formation from disgruntle : to put in a good humor <were gruntled with a good meal and good conversation -- W. P. Webb>
—m-w.com
And yes, the original derivation is as you say, but the back-formation has been around for a century or so.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2007-02-16 03:02 pm (UTC)—wordnet.princeton.edu
grun·tle
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): grun·tled; grun·tling
Etymology: back-formation from disgruntle
: to put in a good humor <were gruntled with a good meal and good conversation -- W. P. Webb>
—m-w.com
And yes, the original derivation is as you say, but the back-formation has been around for a century or so.