Lexic.us

Definition of Catnip

1. Noun. Hairy aromatic perennial herb having whorls of small white purple-spotted flowers in a terminal spike; used in the past as a domestic remedy; strongly attractive to cats.

Definition of Catnip

1. n. A well-know plant of the genus Nepeta (N. Cataria), somewhat like mint, having a string scent, and sometimes used in medicine. It is so called because cats have a peculiar fondness for it.

Definition of Catnip

1. Noun. (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. ¹

2. Noun. ''Nepeta cataria'' and ''Nepeta grandiflora'' (and perhaps other species), which are well-known for causing an apparently harmless pheromone-based intoxication among certain cats. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Catnip

1. an aromatic herb [n -S]

Medical Definition of Catnip

1. The dried flowering tops of Nepeta cataria (family Labiatae); an emmenagogue and antispasmodic; also reported to produce psychic effects. Synonym: catnep, catnip. Origin: L. Cattus, male cat (post-class) (05 Mar 2000)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Catnip

Literary usage of Catnip

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Putnam's Vegetable Book by Mae Savell Croy (1917)
"catnip catnip is sometimes used as a seasoning, but the real reason why one should have a bunch of catnip in the garden is for our friends, the cats. ..."

2. The True Philosopher and Other Cat Tales by Peggy Bacon (1919)
"catnip AND CATNAP ONCE there were brothers, catnip and Catnap, as different as kittens can be, for catnip was all enthusiasm and energy, Catnap all calm ..."

3. Medical Common Sense: Applied to the Causes, Prevention and Cure of Chronic by Edward Bliss Foote (1864)
"If any of my readers have a sick cat, just give her some catnip herb, and observe the delight which she manifests in rolling on it, snuffing its aroma, ..."

4. Longman's Object Lessons: Hints on Preparing and Giving Them, with Full by David Salmon (1892)
"CATMINT OR catnip^ Mints.—There are many kinds of mints growing wild in all ... The anthers of the catnip are purple. By counting them it will be seen that ..."

5. The Practice of medicine on Thomsonian principles ... and a materia medica by John W. Comfort (1859)
"catnip POULTICE. catnip leaves, steeped in vinegar and water, and thickened with slippery elm, ground flax-seed, or fine Indian meal, form a poultice that ..."

6. The Indiana Weed Book by Willis Stanley Blatchley (1912)
"The ripened pistils of the buttercups and the so-called seeds of the dandelions, catnip and hound's tongue are examples of achenes. ..."

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