gnarl

¹

[ nahrl ]

noun

1. a knotty protuberance on a tree; knot.

verb (used with object)

1. to twist into a knotted or distorted form.

   Synonyms: distort, contort

gnarl

²

[ nahrl ]

verb (used without object)

1. to growl; snarl.

gnarl

¹

/ nɑːl /

noun

1. any knotty protuberance or swelling on a tree

verb

1. tr to knot or cause to knot

gnarl

²

/ nɑːl; nɑː /

verb

1. obsolete.
   intr to growl or snarl

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnarl¹

First recorded in 1805–15; back formation from gnarled

Origin of gnarl²

First recorded in 1585–95; variant of gnar

Word History and Origins

Origin of gnarl¹

C19: back formation from gnarled, probably variant of knurled; see knurl

Origin of gnarl²

C16: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

His personal life is volatile, but one can’t argue with the scale of his ambition, or how his gnarled aesthetics have reached an unlikely mass crowd.

From Los Angeles Times

On Friday, in the scant shelter of a few gnarled olive trees near the Palestinian village of Beita, a first field outing became her last.

From Los Angeles Times

Nicky said he remembers Patrick noticing the "gnarled hands of ex-miners" in the job centres now filling in forms for benefits.

From BBC

The property is miles from the highway, accessible on two-lane roads lined by horse paddocks, white fences and canopies of gnarled live oaks.

From Los Angeles Times

Originally from the word “gnarled” meaning rough or twisted, surfers adapted this word in the 1970s to describe a situation that can be seen as extreme such as riding an intimidating wave, said Warshaw.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• alter
• belie
• deceive
• disfigure
• mangle
• misconstrue
• misinterpret
• misrepresent
• pervert
• twist
• warp