catnip


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cat·nip

 (kăt′nĭp′)
n.
1. A hairy aromatic perennial herb (Nepeta cataria) in the mint family, native to Eurasia and containing an aromatic oil to which cats are strongly attracted.
2. Any of various other mostly aromatic plants of the genus Nepeta, cultivated for their ornamental foliage and clusters of blue, lavender, or white flowers.
[cat + nip, catnip (variant of nep, from Middle English nept, nep, from Old English nepte, from Latin nepeta, aromatic herb, perhaps of Etruscan origin).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

catnip

(ˈkætˌnɪp)
n
(Plants) another name for catmint
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cat•nip

(ˈkæt nɪp)

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.; cat + nip, variant of Middle English nep catnip < Old English nepte < Medieval Latin nepta, variant of Latin nepeta]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.catnip - hairy aromatic perennial herb having whorls of small white purple-spotted flowers in a terminal spikecatnip - 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
catmint, Nepeta cataria
herb, herbaceous plant - a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests
genus Nepeta, Nepeta - catmint
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
kattenkruidNepeta
Mentioned in ?
References in classic literature ?
Beth had old-fashioned fragrant flowers in her garden, sweet peas and mignonette, larkspur, pinks, pansies, and southernwood, with chickweed for the birds and catnip for the pussies.
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The neighbour ran, and in came a brisk little old lady in cap and specs, with a bundle of herbs under her arm, which she at once applied in all sorts of funny ways, explaining their virtues as she clapped a plantain poultice here, put a pounded catnip plaster there, or tied a couple of mullein leaves round the sufferer's throat.
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A fisherman, it is true, had noticed her little footprints in the sand, as he went homeward along the beach with a basket of fish; a rustic had seen the child stooping to gather flowers; several persons had heard either the rattling of chariot wheels, or the rumbling of distant thunder; and one old woman, while plucking vervain and catnip, had heard a scream, but supposed it to be some childish nonsense, and therefore did not take the trouble to look up.
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My felines had a catnip banana toy they played with until it looked like a rotten banana.
Too many cat toys? Find out when to re-sort, renew or replace
Dried catnip products should only contain catnip--check the ingredients label for any fillers or other ingredients.
Catnip Crazy: Yes, Virginia, there is high-quality catnip
Each lifelike fish contains irresistible catnip and crinkle inside.
Pounce and Play
Andrew says: "I graduated with a degree in neuroscience but I never imag-ined it would evolve into exploring the neuro-effects of catnip. Most of us would agree that cats are regal creatures.
Meowt of it; Pet talk
Andrew says: "I graduated with a degree in neuroscience but I never imagined it would evolve into exploring the neuro-effects of catnip. Most of us would agree that cats are regal creatures.
Cats fed euphoric "high" plant before photographer captures the results; Professional animal photographer Andrew Marttila has taken a series of shots for a new book which shows just how much the herb leaves mogs feeling out of it
And the Ladino word for grandfather, which struck me as catnip for cruel schoolyard bullies, was Papoo.
525 Years After the Expulsion of the Jews, Spain Announces a New Initiative to Help Preserve Ladino
Mountain Balm is closely related to Catnip (Nepata cataria), and attracts cats with pheromone overtones which emanate from the chemical metatabilacetone, which is hallucinogenic, and is incorporated in cat toys.
Plant of the week: Mountain herb has positive effect on brain
Seeds of French marigold, ageratum, and catnip were sown in a greenhouse in early Mar of 2014 and 2015, and seedlings (about 10 cm high) were transplanted individually to plastic pots (10 cm in diameter, 12 cm high).
Behavioral responses of Aphis citricola (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its natural enemy Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) to non-host plant volatiles

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