knawel

[nawl]

noun

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.

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 of knawel

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

any of several Old World caryophyllaceous plants of the genus Scleranthus, having heads of minute petal-less flowers

Word Origin for knawel

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