gnash

WOTD – 18 March 2007    

English

Etymology

From Middle English gnasten. Origin unknown; the word is probably either Germanic or onomatopoeic. Compare Old Norse gnastan, German knirschen, German Low German gnirschen, gnörschen.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /næʃ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æʃ

• Homophone: Nash

Verb

gnash (third-person singular simple present gnashes, present participle gnashing, simple past and past participle gnashed)

1. (transitive) To grind (one's teeth) in pain or in anger.

   to gnash the teeth

2. (transitive) To grind between the teeth.

   to gnash the air in fury

   to gnash a carpet

3. (Geordie) To run away

Derived terms

• gnasher/gnashers
• gnashy

Translations

to grind one's teeth in pain or in anger

• Ancient Greek: βρύκω, βρύχω
• Dutch: tandenknarsen (nl), knarsetanden (nl)

• Norwegian: skjære tenner

Anagrams

• hangs