catnip

catnip
/kat"nip/, n.
a plant, Nepeta cataria, of the mint family, having egg-shaped leaves containing aromatic oils that are a cat attractant.
Also, esp. Brit., catmint.
[1705-15, Amer.; CAT1 + nip, var. of ME nep catnip, apocopated var. of OE nepte < ML nepta, var. of L nepeta]

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Aromatic herb (Nepeta cataria) of the mint family.

Catnip has spikes of small, purple-dotted flowers. It has been used as a seasoning and as a medicinal tea for colds and fever. Because its mintlike flavour and aroma are particularly exciting to domestic cats, it is often used as a stuffing for cat toys.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria).

Walter Chandoha

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▪ herb
also called  Catmint 

      (Nepeta cataria), aromatic herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae, or Labiatae). The plant has spikes of small, purple-dotted flowers. Catnip has been used as a seasoning and as a medicinal tea for colds and fever. Because its mintlike flavour and aroma are particularly exciting to cats, it is often used as a stuffing for cat playthings.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • catnip — 1712, Amer.Eng., from cat + nip, from O.E. nepte catnip, from L. nepta, name of an aromatic herb. The older name is M.E. catmint (mid 13c.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • catnip — ☆ catnip [kat′nip΄ ] n. [ CAT1 + nip, dial. for nep, catnip < L nepeta] an herb (Nepeta cataria) of the mint family, with downy leaves and spikes of white or bluish flowers that are used in flavorings and tea: cats like its odor …   English World dictionary

  • Catnip — Cat nip , Catmint Cat mint , n. (Bot.) A well know plant of the genus {Nepeta} ({Nepeta Cataria}), somewhat like mint, having a string scent, and sometimes used in medicine. It is so called because cats have a peculiar fondness for it. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • catnip — noun Etymology: 1cat + obsolete nep catnip, from Middle English, from Old English nepte, from Latin nepeta Date: 1712 1. a strong scented perennial mint (Nepeta cataria) that has whorls of small pale flowers in terminal spikes and contains a… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • catnip — noun a) Any of the about 250 species of flowering plant of the genus Nepeta, family Lamiaceae, certain of which are said to have medicinal qualities. Some cats go bonkers over catnip; others ignore it. b) Nepeta cataria and Nepeta grandiflora… …   Wiktionary

  • catnip — cat•nip [[t]ˈkæt nɪp[/t]] n. pln a plant, Nepeta cataria, of the mint family, having egg shaped leaves containing aromatic oils that are a cat attractant Also, esp. brit.,catmint Etymology: 1705–15, amer.; cat+nip, var. of ME nep catnip < OE… …   From formal English to slang

  • catnip — /ˈkætnɪp/ (say katnip) noun → catmint. {cat1 + nip, variant of nep catnip, variant of nept, from Medieval Latin nepta, Latin nepeta} …  

  • catnip — paprastoji katžolė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Notrelinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, prieskoninis, vaistinis augalas (Nepeta cataria), paplitęs pietų Europoje, Azijoje. Iš jo gaminami maisto priedai (kvėpikliai). atitikmenys: lot. Nepeta… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • catnip — katžolė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Notrelinių (Lamiaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Nepeta). atitikmenys: lot. Nepeta angl. catmint; catnip vok. Katzenminze; Nepeta rus. котовник lenk. kocimiętka …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • catnip — katžolė statusas T sritis augalininkystė atitikmenys: lot. Nepeta angl. catmint; catnip rus. котовник …   Žemės ūkio augalų selekcijos ir sėklininkystės terminų žodynas

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