gnarly = cool (1979)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

The last post had...

> -----
> Los Angeles Times, Sep 21, 1978, p. IV16/1
> Gnarly: Crazy, like Rad; used for outstanding daring feats or outstanding
> wipe-outs.
> -----

That seems to be transitional, from "gnarly" = 'dangerous, difficult'
(HDAS 1977) to "gnarly" = 'cool' (HDAS 1982). The new sense was in place
by 1979:

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Washington Post, May 29, 1979, p. B3/6
And one recent visitor from Southern California reported that 14-year-olds
out there, which is to say the Thought Police of American popular culture,
are approving things not as boss, hot, neat, bad, or tough but -- are you
ready? -- "gnarly."
-----


--Ben Zimmer