gnarled en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /nɑː(ɹ)ld/
- (Southern-England) audio
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.
Meanings
-
Knotty and misshapen.
For students of history and culture, the cherry trees’ delicate flowers and gnarled trunks speak to the enduring soft power of global goodwill, culture, and faith in a better future to overcome division, including wartime enmity and destruction.
2026 March 27, The Monitor's Editorial Board, “When spring bursts forth with renewal”, in The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, Massachusetts: Christian Science Publishing Society, →ISSN, →OCLC:Three chairs of the steamer type, all maimed, comprised the furniture of this roof-garden, with […] on one of the copings a row of four red clay flower-pots filled with sun-baked dust from which gnarled and rusty stalks thrust themselves up like withered elfin limbs.
1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter I (Anarchy), pages 377–378:
- Made rough by age or hard work.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most gnarled | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more gnarled | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
Translations (33)
cs sukovitý (knotty and misshapen) · ga casta (made rough by age or hard work) · ga cnapánach (knotty and misshapen) · ga fadharcánach (knotty and misshapen) · it nodoso (knotty and misshapen) · bg чепат (knotty and misshapen) · de knorrig (knotty and misshapen) · mi pūioio (knotty and misshapen) · mi pūwharawhara (knotty and misshapen) · uk коря́вий (made rough by age or hard work) · ky чотур (knotty and misshapen) · sv knotig (knotty and misshapen) · fr noueux (made rough by age or hard work) · bg чворест (knotty and misshapen) · nl knoestig (knotty and misshapen) · ca nuós (knotty and misshapen) · uk коструба́тий (knotty and misshapen) · alt чодур (knotty and misshapen) · ru коря́вый (knotty and misshapen) · es nudoso (knotty and misshapen) · ba сутыр (knotty and misshapen) · fr ratatiné (knotty and misshapen) · cs zkroucený (knotty and misshapen) · pl sękaty (knotty and misshapen) · it bitorzoluto (knotty and misshapen) · fr noueux (knotty and misshapen) · fi pahkainen (knotty and misshapen) · nl misvormd (knotty and misshapen) · uk коря́вий (knotty and misshapen) · tt чутыр (knotty and misshapen) · uz chotir (knotty and misshapen) · fi ryhmyinen (knotty and misshapen) · uk вузлува́тий (knotty and misshapen)