Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

KNAR, n. Also knarr, knaur, naar. Dims. knarrie, knarlich. [(k)nɑ:r]

1. A knot in wood, a bark-covered protuberance (Sc. 1818 Sawers; ‡Abd. 1960). Cf. Eng. dial. gnarl, gnarr, id. Hence knarlie, adj., knotty, gnarled (Lnk. 1825 Jam.). Cf. Eng. dial. gnarly, id.Sc. 1818 Scots Mag. (Oct.) 328:
The crashan' taps o' knarlie aiks Cam doupan' to the grun'.

2. A rough, uneven scar (Fif.¹⁰ 1943), a bruise, a hurt with consequent swelling (Abd. 1825 Jam., knarrie).Fif. 1899 Proc. Philos. Soc. Gsw. XXXI. 40:
A naar is the cicatrix left after suppuration in such glands [of the neck].

‡3. Fig. A burly, stockily-built person (Bch. 1919 T.S.D.C., 1924 Scots Mag. (Oct.) 56; ne.Sc. 1960). Obs. in Eng.Abd.¹⁵ 1928:
He's nae vera heech, bit a fell stoot knarlich.Abd. 1950 Buchan Observer (5 Dec.):
Leaving the knars of twelve to sixteen stone to shape the furrows.