Urticants

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Substances that produce a stinging or burning sensation on the skin, often found in certain plants or materials
2. irritants that provoke an inflammatory reaction on contact
3. agents that can induce discomfort or dermatitis upon exposure

Etymology: "Urticants" is the plural of "urticant", a noun for substances that cause stinging. The plural form is the only thing the available source establishes, so the word's deeper history is best approached through its base, "urtica", the Latin name for the nettle. Its root is the Latin verb "urere", meaning "to burn", which explains why a nettle's sting is described with the language of fire. Anything that irritates the skin in the same way as a nettle, whether a plant hair or a chemical, is grouped under this burning-sting idea.