Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

(nûrl′y̆)

[

Com

par.

Knurlier

(nûrl′ĭ-ẽr)

;

sup

erl.

Knurliest

[See

, and cf.

Full of knots; hard; tough; hence, capable of enduring or resisting much.

Adj.

nur'ly. [from knur.] Full of knots; hard. This seems to be the same as gnarly.

knurly ‎(comparative knurlier or more knurly, superlative knurliest or most knurly)

Gnarled or knotty; hard and misshapen.
- (Can we date this quote?), Goold Brown, The Grammar of English Grammars:
  It seems too much like a great tree, beautiful, symmetrical, and full of leaves, but raised or desired only for fruit, yet bearing little, and some of that little not of good quality, but knurly or bitter.
- 1911, Holman Day, The Skipper and the Skipped:
  "Well, I swow!" ejaculated the Cap'n, rubbing his knurly forefinger under his nose, and glancing first at the parrots and then at the lady.