gnarl1

[nahrl] /nɑrl/
noun
1.
a knotty protuberance on a tree; knot.
verb (used with object)
2.
to twist into a knotted or distorted form.
Origin
1805-15; back formation from gnarled
Synonyms
2. contort, distort.

gnarl2

[nahrl] /nɑrl/
verb (used without object)
1.
to growl; snarl.
Origin
1585-95; variant of gnar
Examples from the web for gnarl
  • Spill the blood of innocents and it will twist and gnarl.
  • His fingers crimp and gnarl, turning the hand into a disfigured claw.
British Dictionary definitions for gnarl

gnarl1

/nɑːl/
noun
1.
any knotty protuberance or swelling on a tree
verb
2.
(transitive) to knot or cause to knot
Word Origin
C19: back formation from gnarled, probably variant of knurled; see knurl

gnarl2

/nɑːl/
verb
1.
(intransitive) (obsolete) to growl or snarl
Word Origin
C16: of imitative origin
Word Origin and History for gnarl
v.

"contort, twist," 1814, a back-formation from gnarled. As a noun from 1824. Earlier the verb was used in a sense of "to snarl" (1590s).