nubby (adj.)

"full of entanglements or imperfections," 1864, from nub + -y (2). Nubbly, "having numerous knobs or lumps," is from 1814.

Entries linking to nubby

nub (n.)

"knob, lump, bump, protuberance," 1590s, variant of dialectal knub, which is probably a variant of knob. Figurative meaning "point, gist" is attested by 1834.

-y (2)

adjective suffix, "full of or characterized by," from Old English -ig, from Proto-Germanic *-iga- (source also of Dutch, Danish, German -ig, Gothic -egs), from PIE -(i)ko-, adjectival suffix, cognate with elements in Greek -ikos, Latin -icus (see -ic). Originally added to nouns in Old English; used from 13c. with verbs, and by 15c. even with other adjectives (for example crispy).

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updated on July 22, 2019

Definitions of nubby from WordNet

nubby (adj.)

of textiles; having a rough surface;

Synonyms: homespun / nubbly / slubbed / tweedy

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near nubby

nth

nuance

nuanced

nub

nubbin

nubby

Nubia

Nubian

nubile

nuchal

nuclear