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Definition of knobbly

knobbly

/ˈnɒb.li/
knob · bly
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knobbly Lexical Profile

knobbly Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

British Having many small hard lumps, knots, or rounded protuberances on the surface; uneven and bumpy in shape or texture.

Example

"The ancient oak tree had a thick, knobbly trunk covered in patches of green moss."

2

British Having prominent, bony, or protruding joints, especially of a person's knees, fingers, or limbs.

Example

"Wearing shorts in the chilly weather, the young runner shivered and rubbed his knobbly knees."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for knobbly

• Nearby Words

knob-tailed gecko
knobbed
knobbled
knobbly
knobby
knobhead
knoblike

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the mid-19th century from 'knobble' (a diminutive of Middle English 'knobbe', meaning a rounded lump or protuberance) combined with the adjectival suffix '-y'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Knobbly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 4, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/knobbly
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