Pronunciation: [nˈaɡi] (IPA) 
The word "knaggy" is spelled with a silent "k" followed by the consonant cluster "n-g." The "a" is pronounced as a short vowel sound, the "g" is pronounced hard, and the final "y" is pronounced as the same sound as the letter "i." In IPA phonetic transcription, this word would be spelled /ˈnæɡi/. "Knaggy" means full of knots or difficult to handle, and it is commonly used to describe rough or uneven textures.
Knaggy is an adjective that describes something as being rough, jagged, or full of small sharp protuberances. It is derived from the Old English word "cnæg," which means a small protuberance or a peg.
When used to describe a material or surface, knaggy suggests a rough texture that is not smooth or even. It implies the presence of small, sharp, or pointed projections, making it rough to the touch. For instance, a knaggy wooden surface would have numerous small pointed protuberances or knots that break the smoothness of the wood.
Knaggy can also be used metaphorically to describe a person's or an animal's physical appearance. In this context, it refers to someone having a rugged or gnarled physique. It suggests a person with a weathered or rough-looking exterior, possibly due to frequent exposure to harsh conditions. For example, a knaggy fisherman would have a rough and wrinkled face, possibly with visible scars, wrinkles, or calluses.
Additionally, this term can be used metaphorically to depict someone's character or behavior. Here, knaggy conveys a sense of edginess, harshness, or sharpness. It characterizes an individual who is blunt, prickly, or abrasive in their mannerisms or speech. A knaggy personality may exhibit a tendency to be difficult, grumpy, or confrontational.
To summarize, knaggy is an adjective used to describe something that is rough, jagged, or full of small sharp protuberances. It can refer to the texture of a material or surface, an individual's physical appearance, or their character and behavior.
Full of knots; rugged.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "knaggy" is derived from the Middle English term "knag", which originally referred to a projecting lump or knot on a tree trunk. It is related to the Old Norse word "knǫggr", meaning "stump" or "branch". Over time, "knaggy" came to describe something with many rough or rugged projections, similar to the knots or bumps found on a tree trunk. It is now commonly used to describe a person or object that is gnarled, rough, or knotty in appearance or texture.
