ˈnäd.]ē, -ät], ]i\ adjective
( usually -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English knotty, from knotte, knot knot + -y — more at knot
: marked by or full of knots: as
a. : full of difficulties or complications : hard to solve or understand : involved , puzzling, intricate
the knotty problems of a complex society — V.L.Parrington
knotty points of international law — Lisle Bell
b. : tied in or with knots
a knotty rope
c.
(1) : twisted or contorted and marked by protuberances : gnarled
ancient knotty trees
: bumpy , knobby
her old knotty hands
(2) : having many hard irregular lumps at the points where branches grow out
cut down a knotty tree trunk
(3) : showing cross sections of such lumps or having knotholes
knotty pieces of lumber
d. : marked by or indicative of robustness or ruggedness : wiry , tough
a sinewy knotty strength — Jack London
Synonyms: see complex