NETTLE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English netel; akin to Old High German nazza ~, Greek adikē Date: before 12th century any of a genus ( Urtica of the family Urticaceae, the ~ family) of chiefly coarse herbs armed with stinging hairs, any of various prickly or stinging plants other than the true ~s (genus Urtica ), II. transitive verb (~d; nettling) Date: 15th century to strike or sting with or as if with ~s, to arouse to sharp but transitory annoyance or anger, see: irritate