Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DAY-NETTLE, Dey-, Dee-, Daa-, Dae(ey)-, Dei-, n. comb.
1. Either of the hemp-nettles, Galeopsis tetrahit or G. versicolor (Sh. 1947 E. S. R. Tait Sh. Folk-Bk. 80, dee-, daa-; Bnff.2 1940; w.Fif.1 1930; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., day-nettle, dey-, dee-); “a kind of nettle, smaller and more venomous than the ordinary nettle” (e.Rs.1 1929, dae-ey — ); “a kind of nettle, common in cornfields, and hurtful to the reaper's hands” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 171).Fif. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 IX. 563:
The Day-nettle, by which the reapers are so severely stung, is the Galeopsis, including more than one species of it, and not the dead-nettle or Lamium, as stated by Dr. Jamieson. The severity of the wound is caused by a poisonous liquid contained in the plant.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan I. vii.:
When dae nettles sprang up in the Kirncannie moss instead of carrots.
2. Now more commonly the dead-nettle, genus Lamium (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., daa-, 1947 E. S. R. Tait Sh. Folk-Bk. 80; Cai.7 1939, dei-; Abd.2, Fif.10, Kcb.10 1940).
3. “A whitlow, a gathering on the finger” (Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicholson in County of Cai. 69, daynettle; Cai.7 1940, dei-, day-).
[O.N. (akr)dai, Galeopsis, Norw. dial. dae(e), daae, id., later also Lamium. The same transference of meaning to the dead-, deaf-nettle (Dan. dødnelde, Norw. dauvnetla) has occurred in Eng. and Sc. Dea-nettle in meanings 1. and 2. is found in n.Eng. dial. The third meaning arises from the fact that whitlows are popularly ascribed to stings from the hemp-nettle. ]
