Date: Thu, 9 Nov 1995 10:29:01 +0000 From: Jenny Becker Subject: Re: Knarly? "Gnarly" comes from "gnarled," which, according to Webster's Third, means "warped or twisted with or as if with gnarls." While "gnarly" may be used in popular speech to mean both "disgusting" and "cool" (I think), there is certainly a standard spelling for it. Jenny Becker beckerj[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]omri.cz >This word is difficult in that it is normally restricted to oral use. >Although a preceived spelling may be present with its usage, I cannot >say for certain whether the spelling has truly been standardized. > >Tom > >> I know it's too soon for prescriptivism here, but isn't it usually spelt >> "gnarly"? Funny what a history of silent letters can do! >> >> On Wed, 8 Nov 1995, SETH SKLAREY wrote: >> >> > In Golden Beach, Florida they used to have them on the median strip, and >> > trimmed them down all the time. It is a very hard, knarly plant when >>treate >d >> > >Tom Uharriet >utom[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]admn.712.nebo.edu