English Explanatory Dictionary

gnarled

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Knotty and misshapen.
  2. Made rough by age or hard work.
verb
  1. simple past and past participle of gnarl (Etymology 1)
verb
  1. simple past and past participle of gnarl (Etymology 2)

Pronunciation

/nɑː(ɹ)ld/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-gnarled.wav

Word forms

gnarled more gnarled most gnarled

Etymology

First attested Shakespeare 1603: : Thy sharpe and sulpherous bolt Splits the vn-wedgable [unwedgable] and gnarled Oke [oak]. : Measure for Measure, Act II, scene ii, line 116 Variant of knurled, from knurl. By surface analysis, gnarl + -ed, though gnarl is a later back-formation. Popular use by 19th century.

Synonyms

gnarly

Derived words

gnarl ungnarled
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