gnarled
UK: nɑːld | US: nɑːrld
adj. twisted, knotted, or misshapen, especially due to age or hard conditions (e.g., a tree or hands)
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"Gnarled" likely derives from the obsolete English word knar or gnar, meaning a knot in wood, combined with the suffix -led (a variant of -ly, suggesting resemblance). The word evokes the rugged, twisted appearance of old trees or weathered objects, with its harsh "gn-" sound mimicking the visual roughness it describes. Its spelling and pronunciation reflect Middle English influences, where "gn-" was more common.
The old oak tree had a gnarled trunk covered in deep ridges.
Her gnarled hands told the story of decades of hard labor.
The hiker stumbled over the gnarled roots protruding from the path.
The artisan carved a bowl from a piece of gnarled driftwood.
Time had turned the fence posts into gnarled, silvered relics.