any of several Old World caryophyllaceous plants of the genus Scleranthus, having heads of minute petal-less flowers
Word origin
C16: from German Knauel, literally: ball of yarn, from Old High German kliuwa ball
knawel in American English
(nɔl)
noun
any of several plants belonging to the genus Scleranthus, of the pink family, native to Eurasia, esp. S. annuus, a common, low-growing weed that forms dense mats
Word origin
[1570–80; ‹ G Knauel, Kneuel knotweed]This word is first recorded in the period 1570–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: bracket, duster, pigeonhole, refraction, split