- nettle
- O.E. netele, from P.Gmc. *natilon (cf. O.S. netila, M.Du. netele, Ger. Nessel, M.Da. nędlę "nettle"), dim. of *naton, of unknown origin, perhaps from the same source as net (n.). The verb meaning "to beat with nettles" is from c.1440; nettled in fig. sense of "vexed, irritated" is from c.1400.