How did Saruman know who Gimli was ?

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Mugwump

Considering the age of the Istari, and how much they got around, I would have been astounded at any suggestion that Saruman did NOT know a notable dwarf like Gimli by sight. I'm certain he must've seen him before in his travels, and more than once.

That seems highly unlikely to me. Saruman, based on my impression from the Istari bits of Unfinished Tales and the Tale of the Years, was pretty sedentary after the Steward of Gondor gave him the keys of Orthanc. Not completely, I don't imagine, but I really don't think he was much of a wanderer by the time of the last White Council, and Gimli was too young then to go on the Quest to Erebor, so I don't think we can call him "notable" quite yet.