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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Horse emmet (Zo["o]l.), the horse ant.

Horse finch (Zo["o]l.), the chaffinch. [Prov. Eng.]

Horse gentian (Bot.), fever root.

Horse iron (Naut.), a large calking iron.

Horse latitudes, a space in the North Atlantic famous for calms and baffling winds, being between the westerly winds of higher latitudes and the trade winds. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Horse mackrel. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) The common tunny (Orcynus thunnus), found on the Atlantic coast of Europe and America, and in the Mediterranean.
   (b) The bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix).
   (c) The scad.
   (d) The name is locally applied to various other fishes, as the California hake, the black candlefish, the jurel, the bluefish, etc.

Horse marine (Naut.), an awkward, lubbery person; one of a mythical body of marine cavalry. [Slang]

Horse mussel (Zo["o]l.), a large, marine mussel (Modiola modiolus), found on the northern shores of Europe and America.

Horse nettle (Bot.), a coarse, prickly, American herb, the Solanum Carolinense.

Horse parsley. (Bot.) See Alexanders.

Horse purslain (Bot.), a coarse fleshy weed of tropical America (Trianthema monogymnum).

Horse race, a race by horses; a match of horses in running or trotting.

Horse racing, the practice of racing with horses.

Horse railroad, a railroad on which the cars are drawn by horses; -- in England, and sometimes in the United States, called a tramway.

Horse run (Civil Engin.), a device for drawing loaded wheelbarrows up an inclined plane by horse power.

Horse sense, strong common sense. [Colloq. U.S.]

Horse soldier, a cavalryman.

Horse sponge (Zo["o]l.), a large, coarse, commercial sponge (Spongia equina).

Horse stinger (Zo["o]l.), a large dragon fly. [Prov. Eng.]

Horse sugar (Bot.), a shrub of the southern part of the United States (Symplocos tinctoria), whose leaves are sweet, and good for fodder.

Horse tick (Zo["o]l.), a winged, dipterous insect (Hippobosca equina), which troubles horses by biting them, and sucking their blood; -- called also horsefly, horse louse, and forest fly.

Horse vetch (Bot.), a plant of the genus Hippocrepis (H. comosa), cultivated for the beauty of its flowers; -- called also horsehoe vetch, from the peculiar shape of its pods.

Iron horse, a locomotive. [Colloq.]

Salt horse, the sailor's name for salt beef.

To look a gift horse in the mouth, to examine the mouth of a horse which has been received as a gift, in order to ascertain his age; -- hence, to accept favors in a critical and thankless spirit. --Lowell.

To take horse.
   (a) To set out on horseback. --Macaulay.
   (b) To be covered, as a mare.
   (c) See definition 7 (above).

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)