Mettle vs. Nettle — What's the Difference?

A person's ability to cope well with difficulties; spirit and resilience

Any of various plants of the genus Urtica, having toothed leaves, unisexual apetalous flowers, and stinging hairs that cause skin irritation on contact.

The ability to meet a challenge or persevere under demanding circumstances; determination or resolve

Any of various hairy, stinging, or prickly plants.

A quality of endurance and courage.

To sting with or as if with a nettle.

Good temperament and character.

To irritate; vex.

(obsolete) Metal; a metallic substance.

Any plant whose foliage is covered with stinging, mildly poisonous hairs, causing an instant rash.

(Scotland) Spirited, vigorous, stout-hearted.

Especially, most species of herb genus Urtica, the stinging nettles:

Substance or quality of temperament; spirit, esp. as regards honor, courage, fortitude, ardor, etc.; disposition; - usually in a good sense; as, to test a person's mettle.

Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis);

The courage to carry on;

S and spurge nettles (Cnidoscolus spp.):

(Eucnide spp.);

(Dendrocnide photinophylla).

Certain plants that have spines or prickles:

(Solanum carolinense);

Solanum elaeagnifolium, bull nettle, silver-leaf nettle, white horse-nettle;

Solanum dimidiatum, western horse-nettle, robust horse-nettle;

Solanum rostratum, horse-nettle;

Celtis (hackberry).

Certain non-stinging plants, mostly in the family Lamiaceae, that resemble the species of Urtica:

, dumb nettle (Lamium spp.), particularly Lamium album, white nettle;

(Boehmeria spp., family Urticaceae);

Or painted nettle (Coleus spp.);

(Stachys spp.);

Hemp nettle (Galeopsis spp.);

Horse nettle Agastache urticifolia,

, Himalayan giant nettle (Girardinia diversifolia, family Urticaceae).

Loosely, anything which causes a similarly stinging rash, such as a jellyfish or sea nettle.

(transitive) Of the nettle plant and similar physical causes, to sting, causing a rash in someone.

To pique, irritate, vex or provoke.

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 chamædryoides 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.

To fret or sting; to irritate or vex; to cause to experience sensations of displeasure or uneasiness not amounting to violent anger.

Any of numerous plants having stinging hairs that cause skin irritation on contact (especially of the genus Urtica or family Urticaceae)

Sting with or as with nettles and cause a stinging pain or sensation

Cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations;