Catnep

/ˈkætnɛp/ noun

Definition

An alternate or dialectal spelling of catnip; a plant that excites and attracts cats.

Etymology

Variant spelling of catnip, from cat + nep (where nep is an obsolete or variant form of nip). Represents historical spelling variation.

Kelly Says

Catnep is a ghost spelling—an older variant that most people today would recognize as catnip but which appears in historical texts and some dialects. It shows how English spelling hasn't always been standardized.

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