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knawel

[nawl]
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noun
  1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Scleranthus, of the pink family, native to Eurasia, especially S. annuus, a common, low-growing weed that forms dense mats.
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Origin of knawel

First recorded in 1570–80, knawel is from the German word Knauel, Kneuel knotweed
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for knawel

Historical Examples

  • I saw no shepherd's purse after December 27th, but knawel was in flower as late as January 18th.

    The Foot-path Way

    Bradford Torrey

British Dictionary definitions for knawel

knawel

noun
  1. any of several Old World caryophyllaceous plants of the genus Scleranthus, having heads of minute petal-less flowers
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Word Origin

C16: from German Knauel, literally: ball of yarn, from Old High German kliuwa ball
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012