ortie

nettle (stinging plant)

noun or-TEE Rare

Origin: Latin urtica (nettle)

Usage Note

Ortie almost always appears as l'ortie piquante (stinging nettle). There is a well-known French expression jeter aux orties — to throw to the nettles — meaning to abandon or cast something aside for good. Nettles are also used in French cuisine, notably in soupe aux orties (nettle soup), and in herbal remedies.

Examples

"Il s'est brule en touchant une ortie."

Natural Translation

He got stung touching a nettle.

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