neti pot

noun

ˈne-tē- 

plural neti pots

: a usually plastic or ceramic container that resembles a small teapot and has a spout which is inserted into a nostril to direct a cleansing saline solution into the nasal passages

Pollen forecasters are predicting a heavy season this year, so allergy sufferers may be struggling to find relief. For some, the neti pot … has become an alternative remedy.

—Anahad O'Connor

Word History

Etymology

neti "ritual cleansing of the nasal passages in hatha yoga," borrowed from New Sanskrit netī "drawing of a thread through the nose and mouth," apparently going back to a Middle Indic source of Hindi netī "cord of a churning stick," going back to Sanskrit netra-, derivative of the verbal base nī "lead"

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neti pot

• aeronaut
• aforethought
• afterthought
• apricot
• argonaut
• astronaut
• camelot
• coffeepot
• concordat
• cosmonaut
• entrepot
• flowerpot

Medical Definition

neti pot

noun

ˈne-tē- 

: a usually plastic or ceramic container that resembles a small teapot and has a spout which is inserted into a nostril to direct a cleansing saline solution into the nasal passages

Neti pots—those odd teapotlike vessels used to wash out the nasal passage—have won legions of fans who rely on them for relief from allergies, congestion and colds.

—Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times