Where does “knottiness” come from?

knottiness (English) comes from English knotty, from Middle English knotti, from Middle English knotte, from Old English cnotta, from Proto-Germanic knuttô, from Proto-Indo-European gnod- — to bind.

knottiness (English): The state of being knotty

Definitions

  1. The state of being knotty

Ancestry of “knottiness”, step by step

knottiness traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English knotty

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishknottyFull of knots; Complicated or tricky; complex,...
2Middle EnglishknottiAlternative form of knotty
3Middle Englishknotteknot, tie; binding, method of attachment, link;...
4Old Englishcnottaknot
5Proto-Germanicknuttôa knot
6Proto-Indo-Europeangnod-to bind

via English Ness

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishNessAn Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa
2Middle Englishnesse
3Old Englishnæsnot, not at all; not; first/third-person singular...
4Proto-Germanicnasjąfoothill; headland; cape
5Proto-Indo-Europeannéh₂snose

via Middle English knottynesse

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishknottynesse
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gnod-Every word from Proto-Germanic knuttôEvery word from Old English cnotta