nettle

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English netle, netel, from Old English netle, netele, netel, from Proto-West Germanic *natilā (cognate with Old Saxon netila, Middle Dutch netele (modern Dutch netel), German Nessel, Middle Danish nædlæ (“nettle”)), a diminutive of Proto-Germanic *natǭ (of unknown origin, perhaps from the same source as net). === Pronunciation === enPR: nĕt'(ə)l, IPA(key): [ˈnɛɾʊl] Rhymes: -ɛt(ə)l === Noun === nettle (plural nettles) Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash. Especially, most species of herb genus Urtica, stinging nettles: Most, but not all, subspecies of Urtica dioica (common nettle), Urtica incisa (Australian nettle); Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis); Bull nettles and spurge nettles (Cnidoscolus spp.): bull nettle, spurge nettle (Cnidoscolus stimulosus) Texas bull nettle (Cnidoscolus texanus), bull nettle (Cnidoscolus urens), Nettle trees or tree nettles: Various species of the genus Dendrocnide: small-leaved nettle (Dendrocnide photinophylla). scratchbush (Urera baccifera) tree nettle (Urtica ferox); rock nettle (Eucnide spp.); Certain plants that have spines or prickles: ball nettle (Solanum carolinense); bull nettle, silver-leaf nettle, white horse-nettle (Solanum elaeagnifolium); western horse-nettle, robust horse-nettle (Solanum dimidiatum); horse-nettle (Solanum rostratum); hackberry (Celtis spp.). Certain non-stinging plants, mostly in the family Lamiaceae, that resemble the species of Urtica: dead nettle, dumb nettle (Lamium spp.), particularly Lamium album, white nettle; false nettle (Boehmeria spp., family Urticaceae); flame nettle or painted nettle (Coleus spp.); hedge nettle (Stachys spp.); hemp nettle (Galeopsis spp.); horse nettle Agastache urticifolia, nilgiri nettle, Himalayan giant nettle (Girardinia diversifolia, family Urticaceae). Loosely, anything which causes a similarly stinging rash, such as a jellyfish or sea nettle. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === nettle (third-person singular simple present nettles, present participle nettling, simple past and past participle nettled) (transitive) Of the nettle plant and similar physical causes, to sting, causing a rash in someone. (transitive, figurative) To pique, irritate, vex or provoke. ==== Translations ==== === References === “nettle”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. Nettle (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia List of plants known as nettle on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Urtica on Wikispecies.Wikispecies Category:Urtica on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons === Anagrams === letten, telnet