stinging hair

American  

noun

Botany.

1. sting.

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stinging hair British  

noun

1. a multicellular hair in plants, such as the stinging nettle, that injects an irritant fluid when in contact with an animal

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Example Sentences

It’s a broadleaf weed that grows in colonies or large groups and have seed leafs that are round and oval with sparse stinging hairs.

From Los Angeles Times

While the early spring weed called stinging nettles are popular, harvesting and cooking with them includes facing their stinging hairs, which can cause irritation and a rash on the skin if not handled properly.

From Salon

He had burrowed under the glove's lining on one of the fingers and embedded some of his stinging hairs in my finger when I disturbed him.

From Washington Post

Many caterpillars have spiky, stinging hairs that look as nasty as they feel.

From Scientific American

The whole plant is covered in sharp stinging hairs which also contain a cocktail of chemicals that irritates our skin.

From Children's BBC