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

Occasional slipups gnarl at the ear as well.

From Washington Post

The bass John Relyea, a Met regular, dug into the role of the assassin Sparafucile with his gargoyle of a voice — a dark, threatening gnarl of sound.

From New York Times

“These nights, I don’t know how I survive,” Ben Gibbard repeats on the first track, howling over a distorted gnarl of guitar.

From New York Times

The story of Marek’s ascent after his father leaves him with Villiam intertwines with the gross-out soap opera of his family’s past, the strands mesmerizing as they twist and gnarl together.

From Washington Post

"Confrontational", "devastating", "visceral", "frazzled", "guttural, volcanic crescendos of industrial gnarl".

From BBC

Related Words

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