kruidjie-roer-my-nie, noun

/ˌkreɪkiˈruːrmeɪni//ˌkrœɪkiˈruːrmeɪni//ˌkreɪciˈruːrmeɪni//ˌkrœɪciˈruːrmeɪni/
Origin:
Afrikaans, DutchShow more Afrikaans, transferred use of Dutch kruidje-roer-mij-niet, kruid herb, plant + diminutive suffix -ie + roeren touch, stir + mij me + niet not, the plant Mimosa pudica, or (figurative) a touchy or irascible person.
Note:
The name is said to refer to the smell the plant emits when touched: the plant so called in Dutch has leaves which close up when touched.
Any of several species of shrub of the genus Melianthus of the Melianthaceae, especially M. major, M. minor, and M. comosus, with foul-smelling leaves which are held to have certain medicinal properties; Truidjie-roer-my-nie.
[1896 J. Wood in Scientific African Mar. 76A few nests of the N. Famosa were discovered among the ‘roer-mij-niet’ bushes.]
1917 R. Marloth Dict. of Common Names of Plants 52Kruidje-roer-mij-niet, Several species of Melianthus, used med[icinally]. In the S.W. M. major (very ornamental foliage), in the central districts M. comosus (poisonous to stock). The latter yields a black, but otherwise quite tasty and harmless honey.
[1936 L.G. Green Secret Afr. 231Traditional country remedies for the bite (sc. of the button spider)...Many people boil up the weed called, in Dutch, kruidjie-roer-my-niet and make the patient drink a concoction.]
1949 L.G. Green In Land of Afternoon 51Leaves of Kruidjie (or Truidjie) roer my nie, in spite of the unpleasant odour, yield a decoction which is taken as a gargle or applied to skin diseases.
1970 D.E. Aboud Informant, Bloemfontein, Free StateKruidjie-roer-my-nie is a shrub up to four feet, unpleasantly scented, which secretes much nectar.
1975 W. Steenkamp Land of Thirst King 130The kruidjie-roer-my-niet..which translates as ‘little herb, touch me not’..is a sizeable growth and not unhandsome in appearance, but bruise its leaves in any way and it exudes a ghastly rank smell that would make a polecat blanch. Nevertheless, the children of old Namaqualand were always willing to brave the kruidjie-roer-me-niet’s stench..in order to get at the delicious brown nectar in its leaves.
1979 Sunday Times 9 Dec. (Mag. Sect.) 7A television series with Willem doing the commentary in the accent that is as strongly flavoured as the kruidjie-roer-my-niet.
Any of several species of shrub of the genus Melianthus of the Melianthaceae, especially M. major, M. minor, and M. comosus, with foul-smelling leaves which are held to have certain medicinal properties; Truidjie-roer-my-nie.
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18961979

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Krugerite, adjectiveadj. & nounn.kruisbessie, nounn.
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