† knurryadj.
Obsolete.
1. Full of knurs, knotty, gnarled.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > protuberance or rounded projection > [adjective] > having (a) protuberance(s) > having knobbles or knots
knurneda1225
warreda1398
knarryc1405
knottyc1405
knurredc1430
knurry1513
knobby1526
knurrish1530
knappy1552
bunchy1562
gouty1597
nody1611
boiny1615
gnarleda1616
nodosous1623
nodose1657
tuberose1704
nodated1710
knablick1788
tuberculed1798
knubbly1809
knubby1828
nubbly1829
knobbled1840
knobbly1844
knarred1849
nubby1864
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid vii. ix. 71 Wyth ane knotty club and knorry heid.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. T. More in tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis 99 Thee knurrye knob oake tree,..in strength surpasseth a smooth slip.
1601 J. Deacon & J. Walker Dialogicall Disc. Spirits & Diuels To Rdr. 7 Knottie or knurrie hard logs doe craue strong yron wedges.
1664 J. Evelyn Sylva (1776) 217 Poplars and Abeles [on] coming to be very old are apt to grow knurry and out of proportion.
2. figurative. ‘Knotty’, perplexing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > resolving of problem, solution > [adjective] > difficult to solve
knurry1615
puzzling1638
snaggled1896
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 304 The second Question is more obscure and the more knurrie knotte a great deale to riue.
1652 T. Urquhart Εκσκυβαλαυρον 95 Set all their braines awork, how to contrive the knurriest arguments.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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adj.1513