Nettle \Net"tle\, n. [AS. netele; akin to D. netel, G. nessel,
OHG. nezz["i]la, nazza, Dan. nelde, n[aum]lde, Sw.
n[aum]ssla; 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.
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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.
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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.
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Hedge \Hedge\, n. [OE. hegge, AS. hecg; akin to haga an
inclosure, E. haw, AS. hege hedge, E. haybote, D. hegge, OHG.
hegga, G. hecke. [root]12. See Haw a hedge.]
A thicket of bushes, usually thorn bushes; especially, such a
thicket planted as a fence between any two portions of land;
and also any sort of shrubbery, as evergreens, planted in a
line or as a fence; particularly, such a thicket planted
round a field to fence it, or in rows to separate the parts
of a garden.
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The roughest berry on the rudest hedge. --Shak.
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Through the verdant maze
Of sweetbrier hedges I pursue my walk. --Thomson.
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Note: Hedge, when used adjectively or in composition, often
means rustic, outlandish, illiterate, poor, or mean;
as, hedge priest; hedgeborn, etc.
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Hedge bells, Hedge bindweed (Bot.), a climbing plant
related to the morning-glory (Convolvulus sepium).
Hedge bill, a long-handled billhook.
Hedge garlic (Bot.), a plant of the genus Alliaria. See
Garlic mustard, under Garlic.
Hedge hyssop (Bot.), a bitter herb of the genus Gratiola,
the leaves of which are emetic and purgative.
Hedge marriage, a secret or clandestine marriage,
especially one performed by a hedge priest. [Eng.]
Hedge mustard (Bot.), a plant of the genus Sisymbrium,
belonging to the Mustard family.
Hedge nettle (Bot.), an herb, or under shrub, of the genus
Stachys, belonging to the Mint family. It has a
nettlelike appearance, though quite harmless.
Hedge note.
(a) The note of a hedge bird.
(b) Low, contemptible writing. [Obs.] --Dryden.
Hedge priest, a poor, illiterate priest. --Shak.
Hedge school, an open-air school in the shelter of a hedge,
in Ireland; a school for rustics.
Hedge sparrow (Zool.), a European warbler (Accentor
modularis) which frequents hedges. Its color is reddish
brown, and ash; the wing coverts are tipped with white.
Called also chanter, hedge warbler, dunnock, and
doney.
Hedge writer, an insignificant writer, or a writer of low,
scurrilous stuff. [Obs.] --Swift.
To breast up a hedge. See under Breast.
To hang in the hedge, to be at a standstill. "While the
business of money hangs in the hedge." --Pepys.
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