nettle meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

nettle

noun

/ˈnɛtəl/ · [ˈnɛɾəɫ]

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).

24 senses

1Most, but not all, subspecies of Urtica dioica (common nettle),
2Urtica incisa (Australian nettle);
3wood nettle (Laportea canadensis);
4bull nettle, spurge nettle (Cnidoscolus stimulosus)
5Texas bull nettle (Cnidoscolus texanus),
6bull nettle (Cnidoscolus urens),
7Various species of the genus Dendrocnide
8small-leaved nettle (Dendrocnide photinophylla).
9scratchbush (Urera baccifera)
10tree nettle (Urtica ferox);
11rock nettles (Eucnide spp.);
12ball nettle (Solanum carolinense);
13bull nettle, silver-leaf nettle, white horse-nettle…
14western horse-nettle, robust horse-nettle (Solanum dimidiatum);
15horse-nettle (Solanum rostratum);
16hackberries (Celtis spp.).
17dead nettles, dumb nettles (Lamium spp.), particularly…
18false nettles (Boehmeria spp., family Urticaceae);
19flame nettles or painted nettles (Coleus spp.);
20hedge nettles (Stachys spp.);
21hemp nettles (Galeopsis spp.);
22horse nettle Agastache urticifolia,
23nilgiri nettles, Himalayan giant nettles (Girardinia…
24Loosely, anything which causes a similarly stinging…

› Any plant whose foliage is covered with… › Especially, most species of herb genus…

Most, but not all, subspecies of Urtica dioica (common nettle),

Urtica incisa (Australian nettle);

› Any plant whose foliage is covered with…

wood nettle (Laportea canadensis);

› Any plant whose foliage is covered with… › bull nettles and spurge nettles (Cnidoscolus spp.):

bull nettle, spurge nettle (Cnidoscolus stimulosus)

Texas bull nettle (Cnidoscolus texanus),

bull nettle (Cnidoscolus urens),

› Any plant whose foliage is covered with… › nettle trees or tree nettles:

Various species of the genus Dendrocnide

› Any plant whose foliage is covered with… › nettle trees or tree nettles: › Various species of the genus Dendrocnide:

small-leaved nettle (Dendrocnide photinophylla).

› Any plant whose foliage is covered with… › nettle trees or tree nettles:

scratchbush (Urera baccifera)

tree nettle (Urtica ferox);

› Any plant whose foliage is covered with…

rock nettles (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);

hackberries (Celtis spp.).

› Certain non-stinging plants, mostly in the…

dead nettles, dumb nettles (Lamium spp.), particularly Lamium album, white nettle;

false nettles (Boehmeria spp., family Urticaceae);

flame nettles or painted nettles (Coleus spp.);

hedge nettles (Stachys spp.);

hemp nettles (Galeopsis spp.);

horse nettle Agastache urticifolia,

nilgiri nettles, Himalayan giant nettles (Girardinia diversifolia, family Urticaceae spp.).

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

Derived terms: 38 terms
benettle, deadnettle, devil's nettle, dwarf nettle, European nettle tree, fen nettle, grasp the nettle, hedgenettle, hemp-nettle, hemp nettle, horsenettle, nettle agent, nettlebed, nettlecloth, nettle cloth, nettle-fish, nettle-leaf giant hyssop, nettle-leaf horsemint, nettle-leaf porterweed, nettle-leaved goosefoot, nettle-leaved horsemint, nettlelike, nettle-monger, nettler, nettle-rash, nettle-rashed, nettlesome, nettlespurge, nettle-tap, nettle tree, nettle tree butterfly, nettlewort, nettly, red dead-nettle, sea nettle, stinging nettle, stingless nettle, stingy nettle

nettle

verb

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.
[…] I am whipp’d and scourged with rods, / Nettled and stung with pismires, when I hear / Of this vile politician, Bolingbroke.c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:

Figuratively To pique, irritate, vex or provoke.

[T]his is no lavv unto the vvoof of the neat Retiarie Spider, vvhich ſeems to vveave vvithout tranſverſion, and by the union of right lines to make out a continued ſurface, vvhich is beyond the common art of Textury, and may ſtill nettle Minerva the Godeſſe of that myſtery.1658, Thomas Browne, “The Garden of Cyrus. […]. Chapter II.”, in Hydriotaphia, Urne-buriall, […] Together with The Garden of Cyrus, […], London: […] Hen[ry] Brome […], →OCLC, pages 110–111:
His Miſtreſs: vvhoſe Miſtreſs, vvhat Miſtreſs; s'life hovv that little vvord has nettled me!1679 April 6 (date licensed; Gregorian calendar), A[phra] Behn, The Feign‘d Curtizans, or, A Nights Intrigue. A Comedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], published 1679, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 59:

2 more examples

I saw Mr. Williams was a little nettled at my Impatience […]1741, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XXXI”, in Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded. […], 3rd edition, volume I, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […]; and J. Osborn, […], →OCLC:
Liu, whose political writings had nettled the Taiwanese authorities, was assassinated on October 15, last year, in Daly City […]1985, United States, Daily Report: People's Republic of China, numbers 180-189, Foreign Broadcast Information Service, page 42:

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