Part 538

Knot, v. i. 1. To form knots or joints, as in a cord, a plant, etc.; to become entangled.

Cut hay when it begins to knot.

Mortimer.

2. To knit knots for fringe or trimming.

3. To copulate; -- said of toads. [R.] Shak.

Knot"ber`ry (?), n. (Bot.) The cloudberry (Rudus Chamæmorus); -- so called from its knotted stems.

Knot"grass` (?), n. (Bot.) (a) a common weed with jointed stems (Polygonum aviculare); knotweed. (b) The dog grass. See under Dog.

An infusion of Polygonum aviculare was once supposed to have the effect of stopping the growth of an animal, and hence it was called, as by Shakespeare, "hindering knotgrass."

We want a boy extremely for this function, Kept under for a year with milk and knotgrass.

Beau. & Fl.

Knot"less, a. Free from knots; without knots. "Silver firs with knotless trunks." Congreve.

Knot"ted (?), a. 1. Full of knots; having knots; knurled; as, a knotted cord; the knotted oak. Dryden.

2. Interwoven; matted; entangled.

Make . . . thy knotted and combined locks to part.

Shak.

3. Having intersecting lines or figures.

The west corner of thy curious knotted garden.

Shak.

4. (Geol.) Characterized by small, detached points, chiefly composed of mica, less decomposable than the mass of the rock, and forming knots in relief on the weathered surface; as, knotted rocks. Percival.

5. Entangled; puzzling; knotty. [R.]

They're catched in knotted lawlike nets.

Hudibras.

Knot"ti*ness (?), n. [From Knotty.] 1. The quality or state of being knotty or full of knots.

2. Difficulty of solution; intricacy; complication. " Knottiness of his style." Hare.

Knot"ty (?), a. [Compar. Knottier (?); superl. Knottiest.] 1. Full of knots; knotted; having many knots; as, knotty timber; a knotty rope.

2. Hard; rugged; as, a knotty head.[R.] Rewe.

3. Difficult; intricate; perplexed.

A knotty point to which we now proceed