knotty, knottie

[Eng. knot; -y.] I. Lit .: Full of knots; knotted; having many knots. "The Cynic raised his knotty staff, and threatened to strike him if he did not depart."-Lewes: History of Phi losophy, i. 189. II. Figuratively : *1. Rugged, hard, rough. "When heroes knock their knotty heads together." Rowe: Ambitious Stepmother. 2. Intricate; difficult of solution; involved, perplexing. "Who tries Me ala's eloquence in vain, Nor can a knotty point of law explain." Francis: Horace's Art of Poetry. knot-wõrt, s. [Eng. knot (1), and wort .] Botany : 1. Sing .: Polygonum aviculare . [KNOTGRASS.] 2. Pl .: Lindley's name for the order Illecebraceae (q. v.).