Where does “snarl” come from?

Snarl comes from Middle Low German snorren, a word of uncertain origin and meaning.

snarl (English): To entangle; to complicate; to involve in knots;...

Definitions

  1. To entangle; to complicate; to involve in knots;...

Ancestry of “snarl”, step by step

snarl traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English snarlen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishsnarlenTo ensnare; to lure
2EnglishsnareA trap; A mental or psychological trap; A loop of...
3Middle EnglishsnareA trap for catching animals
4Old Englishsnearea string; cord
5Proto-Germanicsnarhǭloop; sling; noose
6Proto-Indo-European(s)nerk-to turn; wind; lace; shrink; shrivel
7Proto-Indo-European(s)ner-to wrap; wind; lace; shrink; shrivel; turn, bend,...

via English snar

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsnarTo snarl
2Middle Low Germansnorrento drone, to hum, to purr

Words derived from “snarl”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ner- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)nerk- →Every word from Proto-Germanic snarhǭ →