gnarl (
http://definr.com/gnarl)
n : something twisted and tight and swollen; "their muscles
stood out in knots"; "the old man's fists were two great
gnarls"; "his stomach was in knots" [syn:
knot]
v 1: twist into a state of deformity; "The wind has gnarled this
old tree"
2: complain quietly [syn:
murmur,
mutter,
grumble,
croak]