Urtication
/ˌɜːrtɪˈkeɪʃən/noun
The act or practice of stinging the skin with nettles, traditionally as a counterirritant treatment.
Did you know?Historical urtication used nettle stings as a counterirritant, based on the belief that a fresh irritation could relieve deeper aches such as rheumatic pain.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*eus- / *us-
“To burn or kindle; a reconstructed root associated with Latin burning vocabulary.”
Classical Latin
Latin
ūrere
“To burn.”
Classical Latin
Latin
urtīca
“Nettle, the stinging plant whose name was associated with burning sensations.”
Late Latin
Latin
urticāre
“To sting or irritate with nettles.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
urticātiō
“The act of stinging or irritating with nettles.”
17th Century
English
urtication
“The practice of applying nettles to the skin as a counterirritant.”
Explore more surprising origins