gnarled
Meanings
Verb
- twist into a state of deformity
- "The wind has gnarled this old tree"
- make complaining remarks or noises under one's breath
- simple past and past participle of gnarl (Etymology 1)
- simple past and past participle of gnarl (Etymology 2)
Adjective Satellite
- used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots
- "gnarled and knotted hands"
Adj
- Knotty and misshapen.
- Made rough by age or hard work.
Origin / 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.
Scrabble Score: 9
gnarled is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL wordgnarled is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gnarled is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary
Words With Friends Score: 12
gnarled is a valid Words With Friends word