WordWeb Online

1. Used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots
   "gnarled and knotted hands";
   - gnarly, knotted, knotty, knobbed

1. Twist into a state of deformity
   "The wind has gnarled this old tree"
    
2. Make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath
   "she gnarls when she feels overworked";
   - murmur, mutter, grumble, croak, chunter [Brit]

See also: crooked

Type of: bend, complain, deform, flex, kick, kvetch [N. Amer], moan, plain [archaic], quetch, sound off, turn, twist

Encyclopedia: Gnarl