knawel

[ nawl ]
/ nɔl /

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

Example sentences from the Web for 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
/ (ˈnɔːəl) /

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