n. [ AS. netele; akin to D. netel, G. nessel, OHG. nezzïla, nazza, Dan. nelde, nälde, Sw. nässla; cf, Lith. notere. ] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Urtica, covered with minute sharp hairs containing a poison that produces a stinging sensation. Urtica gracilis is common in the Northern, and Urtica chamaedryoides in the Southern, United States. The common European species, Urtica urens and Urtica dioica, are also found in the Eastern united States. Urtica pilulifera is the Roman nettle of England. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term nettle has been given to many plants related to, or to some way resembling, the true nettle; as:
Australian nettle, a stinging tree or shrub of the genus Laportea (as Laportea gigas and Laportea moroides); -- also called nettle tree. --
Bee nettle,
Hemp nettle, a species of Galeopsis. See under Hemp. --
Blind nettle,
Dead nettle, a harmless species of Lamium. --
False nettle (Baehmeria cylindrica), a plant common in the United States, and related to the true nettles. --
Hedge nettle, a species of Stachys. See under Hedge. --
Horse nettle (Solanum Carolinense). See under Horse. --
nettle tree. (a) Same as Hackberry. (b) See Australian nettle (above). --
Spurge nettle, a stinging American herb of the Spurge family (Jatropha urens). --
Wood nettle, a plant (Laportea Canadensis) which stings severely, and is related to the true nettles. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nettle cloth, a kind of thick cotton stuff, japanned, and used as a substitute for leather for various purposes. --
Nettle rash (Med.), an eruptive disease resembling the effects of whipping with nettles. --
Sea nettle (Zool.), a medusa. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nettled p. pr. & vb. n. Nettling ] To fret or sting; to irritate or vex; to cause to experience sensations of displeasure or uneasiness not amounting to violent anger. [ 1913 Webster ]

The princes were so nettled at the scandal of this affront, that every man took it to himself. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) the European whitethroat. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who nettles. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ See Knittle. ] (Naut.) (a) The halves of yarns in the unlaid end of a rope twisted for pointing or grafting. (b) Small lines used to sling hammocks under the deck beams. (c) Reef points. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. same as irritating, 1.
Syn. -- annoying, galling, chafing, irritating, pesky, pestiferous, pestilent, plaguy, plaguey, teasing, vexatious, vexing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]