Nettle

Nettle
Recorded in several spellings including Nettle, Nettell, the patronymic Nettles, and probably others, this is a medieval English surname. It has at least two possible origins. The most likely is a nickname for a person with the prickly personality, or given the Chaucerian humour of the period, perhaps the reverse! Secondly it may have been occupational. Nettle being a popular herb, much used for medicinal potions, as well as being an early vegetable much used in soups and broths, as such it could describe a herbalist. Surprisingly the popular dictionaries of surnames fail to mention the surname at all, but this may be because of its relative rarity. It is well recorded in the surviving church registers of the city of London from the time of the infamous King Henry V111th (1510 - 1547). He did not do much good but he did introduce church registers on a national basis. Examples from these registers include William Nettles who was christened at the church of St Leonard Eastcheap, on March 8th 1542, and Richard Nettle christened at St Margaret's Westminster, on March 2nd 1676.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Nettle — Net tle, n. [AS. netele; akin to D. netel, G. nessel, OHG. nezz[ i]la, nazza, Dan. nelde, n[ a]lde, Sw. n[ a]ssla; cf, Lith. notere.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Urtica}, covered with minute sharp hairs containing a poison that produces a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nettle — ► NOUN ▪ a plant having jagged leaves covered with stinging hairs. ► VERB ▪ annoy. ● grasp the nettle Cf. ↑grasp the nettle ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • nettle — [net′ l] n. [ME netle < OE netele, akin to Ger nessel < IE base * ned , to twist together > NET1: from the use of such plants as a source of spinning fiber] 1. any of a genus (Urtica) of annual and perennial weeds of the nettle family… …   English World dictionary

  • Nettle — Net tle, 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nettle — index aggravate (annoy), badger, discompose, disturb, hector, incense, irritate, offend ( …   Law dictionary

  • nettle — provoke, exasperate, *irritate, aggravate, rile, peeve Analogous words: *annoy, irk, bother, vex: disturb, perturb, agitate, upset, *discompose: fret, chafe, gall (see ABRADE) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • nettle — [v] provoke, upset annoy, chafe, disgust, disturb, exasperate, fret, get*, goad, harass, huff, incense, insult, irritate, miff, peeve*, pester, pet, pique, put out*, rile, roil, ruffle, snit*, stew*, sting*, tease, tiff*, vex; concepts 7,14,19… …   New thesaurus

  • Nettle — Nettles redirects here. For people with this name, see Nettles (surname). For other uses, see Nettle (cryptographic library). Nettle Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) …   Wikipedia

  • nettle — /ˈnɛtl/ (say netl) noun 1. Also, stinging nettle. any plant of the genus Urtica, comprising widely distributed herbs armed with stinging hairs. 2. any of various allied or similar plants, as Gympie nettle. 3. → dead nettle. –verb (t) (nettled,… …  

  • nettle — {{11}}nettle (n.) stinging plant, O.E. netele, from P.Gmc. *natilon (Cf. O.S. netila, M.Du. netele, Du. netel, Ger. Nessel, M.Da. nædlæ nettle ), dim. of *naton, perhaps from PIE root *ned to twist, knot (see NET (Cf. net) ( …   Etymology dictionary

  • nettle — I UK [ˈnet(ə)l] / US noun [countable] Word forms nettle : singular nettle plural nettles a tall plant with pointed leaves and small hairs that sting if you touch them • grasp the nettle II UK [ˈnet(ə)l] / US verb [transitive] Word forms nettle :… …   English dictionary

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