Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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 stinging sensation.
{Urtica gracitis} is common in the Northern, and {U.
cham[ae]dryoides} in the Southern, United States. the common
European species, {U. urens} and {U. dioica}, are also found
in the Eastern united States. {U. pilulifera} is the Roman
nettle of England.
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 {L. gigas} and {L. 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} ({B[ae]hmeria 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.
{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} (Zo["o]l.), a medusa.
Blind \Blind\, a. [AS.; akin to D., G., OS., Sw., & Dan. blind,
Icel. blindr, Goth. blinds; of uncertain origin.]
1. Destitute of the sense of seeing, either by natural defect
or by deprivation; without sight.
He that is strucken blind can not forget The
precious treasure of his eyesight lost. --Shak.
2. Not having the faculty of discernment; destitute of
intellectual light; unable or unwilling to understand or
judge; as, authors are blind to their own defects.
But hard be hardened, blind be blinded more, That
they may stumble on, and deeper fall. --Milton.
3. Undiscerning; undiscriminating; inconsiderate.
This plan is recommended neither to blind
approbation nor to blind reprobation. --Jay.
4. Having such a state or condition as a thing would have to
a person who is blind; not well marked or easily
discernible; hidden; unseen; concealed; as, a blind path;
a blind ditch.
5. Involved; intricate; not easily followed or traced.
The blind mazes of this tangled wood. --Milton.
6. Having no openings for light or passage; as, a blind wall;
open only at one end; as, a blind alley; a blind gut.
7. Unintelligible, or not easily intelligible; as, a blind
passage in a book; illegible; as, blind writing.
8. (Hort.) Abortive; failing to produce flowers or fruit; as,
blind buds; blind flowers.
{Blind alley}, an alley closed at one end; a cul-de-sac.
{Blind axle}, an axle which turns but does not communicate
motion. --Knight.
{Blind beetle}, one of the insects apt to fly against people,
esp. at night.
{Blind cat} (Zo["o]l.), a species of catfish ({Gronias
nigrolabris}), nearly destitute of eyes, living in caverns
in Pennsylvania.
{Blind coal}, coal that burns without flame; anthracite coal.
--Simmonds.
{Blind door}, {Blind window}, an imitation of a door or
window, without an opening for passage or light. See
{Blank door or window}, under {Blank}, a.
{Blind level} (Mining), a level or drainage gallery which has
a vertical shaft at each end, and acts as an inverted
siphon. --Knight.
{Blind nettle} (Bot.), dead nettle. See {Dead nettle}, under
{Dead}.
{Blind shell} (Gunnery), a shell containing no charge, or one
that does not explode.
{Blind side}, the side which is most easily assailed; a weak
or unguarded side; the side on which one is least able or
disposed to see danger. --Swift.
{Blind snake} (Zo["o]l.), a small, harmless, burrowing snake,
of the family {Typhlopid[ae]}, with rudimentary eyes.
{Blind spot} (Anat.), the point in the retina of the eye
where the optic nerve enters, and which is insensible to
light.
{Blind tooling}, in bookbinding and leather work, the
indented impression of heated tools, without gilding; --
called also {blank tooling}, and {blind blocking}.
{Blind wall}, a wall without an opening; a blank wall.