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When they were accorded from the fray. Spenser. All which particulars, being confessedly knotty and difficult can never be accorded but by a competent stock of critical learning. South.

A word, phrase, idiom, or custom peculiar to Africa or Africans. "The knotty Africanisms . . . of the fathers." Milton.

A love knot, love token, or love song. (pl.) Love glances or love tricks. [Obs.]

In twain; asunder. [Obs. or Poetic] "Cuts atwain the knots." Tennyson.

A knot by which one rope is fastened to another or to an anchor, spar, or post. Totten.

The knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare).

A knot of worms, or of rags, on a string, used in angling, as for eels; formerly, a worm suitable for bait. Or yellow bobs, turned up before the plow, Are chiefest baits, with cork and lead enow. Lauson.

An ornamental knot, with projecting lops, formed by doubling a ribbon or string.

bridles, the ropes by which the bowline is fastened to the leech of the sail. -- Bowline knot. See Illust. under Knot. -- On a bowline, close-hauled or sailing close to the wind; -- said of a ship.

; a shock or collision; as, to have a brush with an enemy. Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong, And tempt not yet the brushes of the war. Shak.

To dress or finish up (cloth); to pick knots, burs, loose threads, etc., from, as in finishing cloth. Burling iron, a peculiar kind of nippers or tweezers used in burling woolen cloth.

The knot at the bottom of an antler. See Bur, n., 8.

A congeries of little stony knots found in the pulp of the pear and other fruits.

A carack. See Carack. Carrick bend (Naut.), a kind of knot, used for bending together hawsers or other ropes. -- Carrick bitts (Naut.), the bitts which support the windlass. Totten.

[Colloq.] -- Cat o' nine tails, an instrument of punishment consisting of nine pieces of knotted line or cord fastened to a handle; -- formerly used to flog offenders on the bare back. -- Cat's cradle, game played, esp. by children, with a string looped on the fingers so, as to resemble small cradle. The string is tr…

with a sterm of many joints (Illecebrum verticillatum); also, the Polygonum aviculare or knotgrass.

A knot, boss, or mass of hair, natural or artificial, worn by a woman at the back of the head. A curl that had strayed from her chignon. H. James.

A bunch, knot, or rosette of ribbon or other material, used as an ornament in women's dress.

A knot of silk or ribbon attached to a fan, walking stick, etc. [Obs.]

Without defect or blemish, such as freckles or knots; as, a clear complexion; clear lumber.