Tough knots lay there (8)
I believe the answer is:
leathery
'tough' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'knots lay there' is the wordplay.
'knots' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'knotted' mean this).
'lay'+'there'='laythere'
'laythere' anagrammed gives 'LEATHERY'.
(Other definitions for leathery that I've seen before include "Tough like tanned hide" , "Like tough skin" , "like old boots?" , "Tough (meat, hide)" , "Like a football" .)