kattekruid, noun

/ˈkatəkreɪt//ˈkatəkrœɪt/
Plurals:
kattekruie/ˈkatəkreɪə/, kattekruiden.
Origin:
Afrikaans, DutchShow more Afrikaans, transferred use of Dutch kattekruid (katte cat’s + kruid herb), the plant Nepeta cataria; see quotation 1913.
The aromatic medicinal herb Ballota africana of the Lamiaceae.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 256Katte kruiden,..In South Africa this designation has been transferred to Ballota Africana, Benth.., not because cats are supposed to be partial to it, but because it is covered with soft hairs. Decoctions of its leaves are used for coughs, colds, and asthma.
1917 R. Marloth Dict. of Common Names of Plants 47Katte’kruid, Ballota africana. Used as a tea and an emollient. Also Stachys hispida. The ‘Kattekruid’ of Holland is Nepta Cataria.
1966 C.A. Smith Common Names 285Kattekruie, An aromatic hairy herb...Decoctions of the plant have a bitter taste and were formerly employed in pulmonary troubles and particularly in asthmatic affections.
1975 W. Steenkamp Land of Thirst King 140A herb called ‘kattekruid’ (cat’s weed) was popular among those who suffered from rheumatic joints. The kattekruid’s furry leaves would be warmed in a cloth bag and laid on the affected joint, the value obviously being in the heat-retaining qualities.
1975 Argus 17 Sept. 18Kattekruie (cat’s herbs or carming) has a sharp fragrance, pale mauve flowers and round leaves which we used to use in our doll’s house as herbs.
The aromatic medicinal herb Ballota africana of the Lamiaceae.
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Kat River, noun phrasen. phr.kay, nounn.
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