(net′l) noun
1. An herb of the genus Urtica, with opposite leaves, inconspicuous, greenish, imperfect flowers, and minute stinging hairs. The stinging is due to the irritating watery juice discharged by the hairs when broken.
2. Any of the various plants of some other genus of the nettle family.
3. Any of various plants of the same or some other family, having some real or fancied resemblance to the nettle genus.
4. A condition of irritation.
—v.t. ·tled, ·tling
1. To sting as the nettle does.
2. To annoy or irritate; provoke. See synonyms under PIQUE¹. [OE netle]
—net′tler noun

(net′l) noun Naut.
A small rope made by tightly twisting two or three yarns. Also net′·tle·stuff′ (-stuf′). [Var. of knettle <knit]