Growl

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mid 17th century: probably imitative.

wiktionary

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From Middle English groulen, grollen, gurlen(“of the bowels: to growl, rumble”), either possibly from Old French groler (variant of croler(“to be agitated, shake”)), grouler, grouller(“to growl, grumble”), [1] from Frankish *grullen, *gruljan or from Old English gryllan, both from Proto-Germanic *gruljaną(“to make a sound; to growl, grumble, rumble”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰer-(“to make a noise; to mumble, murmur; to rattle; to grind; to rub, stroke”), probably ultimately imitative. The word is cognate with Middle Dutch grollen(“to make a noise; to croak, grumble, murmur; to be angry”) (modern Dutch grollen(“to grumble”)), German grollen(“to rumble; to be angry, bear ill will”), Old English grillan, griellan(“to provoke, offend; to gnash the teeth”). Compare grill.

The noun is derived from the verb. [2]

etymonline

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growl (v.)

1660s, from Middle English grollen "to rumble, growl" (early 15c.), from Old French grouler "to rumble," said to be from Frankish; probably ultimately of imitative origin. Related: Growled; growling. The noun is 1727, from the verb.