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The Origins of the Word. Etymologists believe that the expression originates from the word "gnarled," which means knobbly, rough, and twisted, especially with age. "Gnarled" is an 18th-century variant of "knarled," which derives from "knar" - a knot or protuberance on a root or tree trunk.
The earliest known use of the adjective gnarly is in the 1840s. OED's earliest evidence for gnarly is from 1846, in the writing of Walter Savage Landor, poet and author. gnarly is formed within English, by derivation.
May 4, 2023 · Where does "gnarly" come from? The term originates from the 18th century, when it was used to describe something knotted or rough, like wood. It later became popular among surfers and skateboarders to describe difficult or impressive feats.
Sep 28, 2017 · gnarly (adj.) "knotted and rugged," c. 1600, from gnarl (see gnarled ) + -y (2). Picked up 1970s as surfer slang to describe a dangerous wave; it had spread to teen slang by 1982, where it meant both "excellent" and "disgusting."
Sometime during the middle of the 20th century, gnarly become part of the surfing and skateboarding lexicon. It’s often said to have originated in California, where its usage was a common part of local teen slang.
Jan 8, 2015 · The origin of gnarly is painfully obvious once someone has already revealed it to you. Gnarly comes from surfer slang of the 1960s, to describe a wave that was difficult, dangerous, and...
The word “gnarly” is one of the most commonly used expressions in surf slang. Wave riders have been using it for decades. When the swell is pumping, and surfers are shredding out-the-back, then we know something gnarly is taking place.
Jul 19, 2020 · Gnarly Until the 1960s, ‘gnarly’ was just a less common form of the word ‘gnarled,’ which is still used to describe things with many twists and knots, like the gnarled branches of a tree. It was, of course, the California surfers who gave the word life.
The most common use of gnarly is to mean "bumpy or twisted," and it is used in more formal language, to talk about parts of trees: trunks, branches, vines; and to talk about body parts: hands, fingers, feet, toes, etc. Here is an example: She was holding a red apple in her gnarly fingers.
Oct 9, 2021 · Gnarly is two syllables – gnarl-y, and the pronunciation of gnarly is ˈnɑːr-ly. This term is most commonly associated with US Surf Culture. This US slang has specific usage when it comes to waves on a North Shore or outer islands.
