Where does “gnarly” come from?
gnarly (English) comes from English gnarl, from English gnarled, from English knurled, from English knurl, from Middle English knarre, from German knarren — to creak.
gnarly (English): Having or characterized by gnarls; gnarled;...
Definitions
- Having or characterized by gnarls; gnarled;...
Ancestry of “gnarly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | gnarl | A knot in wood; a large or hard knot, or a... |
| 2 | English | gnarled | Knotty and misshapen; Made rough by age or hard... |
| 3 | English | knurled | simple past tense and past participle of knurl |
| 4 | English | knurl | A contorted knot in wood; A crossgrained... |
| 5 | Middle English | knarre | knot in wood; a crag; twisted rock; knot in wood |
| 6 | German | knarren | to creak |