Main Entry:

¹net·tle

Pronunciation:

\ˈne-t^əl\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English netel; akin to Old High German nazza nettle, Greek adikē

Date:

before 12th century

1 : any of a genus (Urtica of the family Urticaceae, the nettle family) of chiefly coarse herbs armed with stinging hairs 2 : any of various prickly or stinging plants other than the true nettles (genus Urtica)

[nettle illustration]