Catnip
Origin
Compound of cat + Middle English nep, from Old English nepte, from Latin nepeta.
Full definition of catnip
Noun
catnip
(countable and uncountable; plural catnips)- (botany) Any of the about 250 species of flowering plant of the genus Nepeta, family Lamiaceae, certain of which are said to have medicinal qualities.
- and (and perhaps other species), which are well-known for causing an apparently harmless pheromone-based intoxication among certain cats.Some cats go bonkers over catnip; others ignore it.