nettle \net"tle\, n. as. netele; akin to d. netel, g. nessel,
   ohg. nezz"ila, nazza, dan. nelde, naumlde, sw.
   naumssla; 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

   note: 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
see also:
urtica urtica gracilis urtica chamaedryoides urtica urens urtica dioica urtica pilulifera 
australian nettle laportea laportea gigas laportea moroides nettle tree 
bee nettle hemp nettle galeopsis hemp blind nettle 
dead nettle lamium false nettle baehmeria cylindrica hedge nettle 
stachys hedge horse nettle solanum carolinense horse 
hackberry spurge nettle jatropha urens wood nettle laportea canadensis 
nettle cloth nettle rash sea nettle 

stachys
     n : large genus of usually woolly or hairy herbs or subshrubs or
         shrubs; temperate eastern hemisphere; tropical
         australasia syn: genus stachys
see also:
genus stachys 

stachys
   spike; an ear of corn, a convert at rome whom paul salutes rom.
   16:9.
   

stachys, spike or ear of corn