Definition:Gross/Linguistic Note

Linguistic Note on Gross
The word gross, used in its original meaning of a dozen dozen, is falling into disuse.

In its place, gross is used as an adjective, mainly in contemporary American slang, to mean distasteful.

This arises from the fact that a gross is conventionally viewed as a large number, when applied to a quantity of an everyday commodity.

Hence the adverb grossly evolved, which was applied to intensify adjectives, and evolved further to qualify adjectives defining unpleasant qualities.