An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

To twist awry or out of shape; make crooked or deformed (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): From L. distortus, p.p. of distorquere “to distort,” from → dis-, + torquere “to twist.”

Etymology (PE): Cowlé “distorted, crooked, bent,” variants [Mo’in] kowlé, kal, kil, Lori cowel, Laki hoval, hol, Malâyeri caval, hol, Tabari, Aftari val, Mid.Pers. xwahl “bent, crooked;” PIE base *klei- “to lean, incline” from which is also derived
Gk. klinein “to cause to slope, slant, incline,” L. clinare “to bend,” → declination.