knurl

knur +‎ -le (“diminutive”), from Middle English knar (“knot in wood”), earlier sense “a stone”, likely influenced by Old Norse knǫrr.[1]

gnarl is a later variant, from gnarled, via knurled.

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knurl (plural knurls)

1. A contorted knot in wood.
2. A crossgrained protuberance; a nodule; a boss or projection.
3. A lined or crossgrained pattern of ridges or indentations rolled or pressed into a part for grip.

knurl (third-person singular simple present knurls, present participle knurling, simple past and past participle knurled)

1. To roll or press a pattern of ridges or indentations into a part for grip.