Lexic.us

Definition of Nettle

1. Verb. Sting with or as with nettles and cause a stinging pain or sensation.

2. Noun. Any of numerous plants having stinging hairs that cause skin irritation on contact (especially of the genus Urtica or family Urticaceae).

3. Verb. Cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations. "The performance is likely to nettle Sue"; "It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves"

Definition of Nettle

1. n. A plant of the genus Urtica, covered with minute sharp hairs containing a poison that produces a stinging sensation. Urtica gracitis is common in the Northern, and U. chamædryoides in the Southern, United States. the common European species, U. urens and U. dioica, are also found in the Eastern united States. U. pilulifera is the Roman nettle of England.

2. v. t. To fret or sting; to irritate or vex; to cause to experience sensations of displeasure or uneasiness not amounting to violent anger.

Definition of Nettle

1. Noun. A herb of the genus ''Urtica'', which is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash. ¹

2. Noun. The non-stinging plant deadnettle, also in the '''nettle''' family, ''Urticaceae'' (named after the above). ¹

3. Noun. Loosely, anything which causes a similarly stinging rash, such as a jellyfish or sea-nettle. ¹

4. Verb. (literally) Of the nettle plant and similar physical causes, to sting causing a rash in someone. ¹

5. Verb. (figuratively) To pique, irritate, vex or provoke someone. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Nettle

1. to make angry [v -TLED, -TLING, -TLES] - See also: angry

Medical Definition of Nettle

1. A plant of the genus Urtica, covered with minute sharp hairs containing a poison that produces a stinging sensation. Urtica gracitis is common in the Northern, and U. Chamaedryoides in the Southern, United States. The common European species, U. Urens and U. Dioica, are also found in the Eastern united States. U. Pilulifera is the Roman nettle of England. The term nettle has been given to many plants related to, or to some way resembling, the true nettle; as: Australian nettle, a stinging tree or shrub of the genus Laportea (as L. Gigas and L. Moroides); also called nettle tree. Bee nettle, Hemp nettle, a species of Galeopsis. See Hemp. Blind nettle, Dead nettle, a harmless species of Lamium. False nettle (Baehmeria cylindrica), a plant common in the United States, and related to the true nettles. Hedge nettle, a species of Stachys. See Hedge. Horse nettle (Solanum Carolinense). See Horse. Nettle tree. Same as Hackberry. See Australian nettle (above). Spurge nettle, a stinging American herb of the Spurge family (Jatropha urens). Wood nettle, a plant (Laportea Canadensis) which stings severely, and is related to the true nettles. Nettle cloth, a kind of thick cotton stuff, japanned, and used as a substitute for leather for various purposes. Nettle rash, a medusa. Origin: AS. Netele; akin to D. Netel, G. Nessel, OHG. Nezzila, nazza, Dan. Nelde, nalde, Sw. Nassla; cf, Lith. Notere. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Nettle

netsukes netsurfer netsurfers netsurfing nett nettable netted netted melon netter netters

nettier netties nettiest netting nettings nettle (current term) nettle-leaved bellflower nettle-leaved goosefoot nettle-rash nettle family

nettle rash nettle tree nettlebird nettled nettleleaf goosefoot nettlelike nettler nettlers nettles

Literary usage of Nettle

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

1. Dictionary of the Bible: Comprising Its Antiquities, Biography, Geography by William Smith, Horatio Balch Hackett, Ezra Abbot (1872)
"The generality of critics and some modern versions are in favor of the nettle. Some have objected to the nettle as not being of a sufficient size to suit ..."

2. Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present: A Dictionary, Historical and by John Stephen Farmer, William Ernest Henley (1902)
"To HAVE PISSED ON A nettle = to be peevish or out of temper ; nettleD = (I) ... IN DOCK, OUT nettle, upon the change of Places, when one is no sooner out, ..."

3. The American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge by Charles Anderson Dana (1875)
"The false nettle, l'j~hn:iria cylindrica, which is common in moist ground all over the country, has the general aspect of the nettles, but is without stings ..."

4. A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words, Obsolete Phrases, Proverbs by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps (1850)
"An ill-tempered person was said to have [watered] on a nettle. Nominale MS. NBVB. ... nettle-SPRINGE. The nettle-rash. Eatt. NETT-UP. Exhausted with cold. ..."

5. The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman, and Keats by Mary Botham Howitt, Henry Hart Milman, John Keats (1853)
"THERE was a nettle both great and strong ; And the threads of his ... It was a wood both drear and dank, There grow the nettle so broad and rank ; And an ..."

6. The Textile Fibres: Their Physical, Microscopical and Chemical Properties by Joseph Merritt Matthews (1913)
"nettle Fibre.*—This fibre is used to some extent for spinning, being cultivated for this purpose in certain parts of Germany and in the ..."

Other Resources: