Nettle

Pronunciation

• enPR: nÄ•t'(É™)l, IPA: /ˈnÉ›t(É™)l/
• Rhymes: -É›t(É™)l

Origin

From Middle English, from Old English netle, netele, netel from Proto-Germanic *natilǭ (cogate with Old Saxon netila, Middle Dutch netele (modern netel), German Nessel, Middle Danish nædlæ "nettle"), a diminutive of *naton (of unknown origin, perhaps from the same source as net).

Full definition of nettle

Noun

1. A herb of the genus Urtica, which is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.
2. The non-stinging plant deadnettle, in the mint family, Lamiaceae.
3. Loosely, anything which causes a similarly stinging rash, such as a jellyfish or sea-nettle.

Derived terms

• deadnettle
• grasp the nettle
• hemp-nettle
• nettle rash
• nettlelike
• nettlesome
• nettly
• stinging nettle

Verb

1. (literally) Of the nettle plant and similar physical causes, to sting causing a rash in someone.The children were badly nettled after playing in the field.
2. (figuratively) To pique, irritate, vex or provoke someone.

Anagrams

• letten
• telnet