Gnaw (na̤), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Gnawed (na̤d); p. pr. & vb. n.Gnawing.] [OE. gnawen, AS. gnagan; akin to D. knagen, OHG. gnagan, nagan, G. nagen, Icel. & Sw. gnaga, Dan. gnave, nage. Cf. Nag to tease.] 1. To bite, as something hard or tough, which is not readily separated or crushed; to bite off little by little, with effort; to wear or eat away by scraping or continuous biting with the teeth; to nibble at.
His bones clean picked; his very bones they gnaw. Dryden.
2. To bite in agony or rage.
They gnawed their tongues for pain. Rev. xvi. 10.
3. To corrode; to fret away; to waste.