a. [f. KNURL sb. + -Y.]

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  a.  Having knurls or knots; gnarled. b. Of the nature of a knurl, dwarfish.

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1602.  Marston, Antonio’s Rev., IV. iii. Till by degrees the tough and knurly trunke Be riv’d in sunder.

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1610.  W. Folkingham, Art of Survey, I. iii. 6. The high timbring Oake … denotates a rich and battle soile;… the knurly, crooked and crabbed harde sparing starueling, bewraies his barren and hungrie bedde.

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1758.  J. Adams, Diary, 3 Dec., Wks. 1850, II. 51. A little knurly, ill-natured horse.

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1882.  Garden, 18 March, 182/2. This … apple … is knurly and imperfect at first.

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