Definition of "knotty-pated" [knotty-pated]

• A doubtful term, either genuine and meaning ‘having a knotty or lumpy pate,’ or, simply, ‘having a hard (wooden) pate,’ or a mistake for not-pated (which is also used by Shakspere).

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "Thou clay-brained guts, thou knotty-pated fool, thou whoreson obscene greasy tallow-catch!"
• "This little edifice is a rustic shrine devoted to Cadmus, and here the sacred rites of the alphabet are daily solemnized by some dozen knotty-pated and freckled votaries not above three feet high, both in trowsers and petticoats."
• "But come on, you gorbellied, knotty-pated hugger-mugger -- that's playing it too safe!"