Definition of the word growl

The origin of the word "growl" can be traced back to Old English, where it was spelled "grulan" or "grulon." In Old English, "grulan" had the meaning of "to grumble" or "to mutter." Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the word evolved, and eventually, it was spelled as "growlen" and pronounced as "groh-uhln" in Middle English. The modern-day spelling "growl" and pronunciation "GROHL" emerged during the 16th century. In its current usage, the word "growl" is most commonly associated with the deep, low-pitched rumbling sound made by animals like cats, dogs, and bears as a sign of warning or aggression. The usage of "growl" to describe the noise that these animals make developed during the 14th century, and the meaning of the word expanded to include the sound as well as the action of grumbling or muttering.