stinging nettle

noun

1. a bristly, stinging Eurasian nettle, Urtica dioica, naturalized in North America, having forked clusters of greenish flowers, the young foliage sometimes cooked and eaten like spinach by the Scots.

stinging nettle

noun

1. See nettle

Word History and Origins

Origin of stinging nettle¹

First recorded in 1515–25

Example Sentences

The stinging-nettle crops up in every bed of flowers we raise; the bitter tonic flavours all we eat and drink.

From Project Gutenberg

The caterpillars usually feed in companies in June and July on the common stinging nettle.

From Project Gutenberg

Or else, they mingle pepper with the seed of the stinging nettle; 952 and the yellow camomile pounded in old wine.

From Project Gutenberg

The common stinging-nettle (Sama) is, by boiling, also prepared into an indifferent food during the quadragesimal low diet.

From Project Gutenberg

It doesn't hurt now, but it was like a stinging nettle—or an electric shock!

From Project Gutenberg