nettle

[ˈnɛɾʊl]

nettle

English Noun Top 39,426

Definition

Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.

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).