catnip
pronunciation
How to pronounce catnip in British English: UK ['kætnɪp]
How to pronounce catnip in American English: US ['kætnɪp]
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- Noun:
- hairy aromatic perennial herb having whorls of small white purple-spotted flowers in a terminal spike; used in the past as a domestic remedy; strongly attractive to cats
Word Origin
- catnip (n.)
- 1712, American English, from cat (n.) + nip, from Old English nepte "catnip," from Latin nepta, name of an aromatic herb. The older name is Middle English catmint (mid-13c.).
Example
- 1. The things are like catnip to the ladies .