thistle
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.this·tle
noun \ˈthi-səl\Definition of THISTLE
: any of various prickly composite plants (especially genera Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum) with often showy heads of mostly tubular flowers; also : any of various other prickly plants
— this·tly \ˈthi-s(ə-)lē\ adjective
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Origin of THISTLE
Middle English thistel, from Old English; akin to Old High German distill thistle
First Known Use: before 12th century
thistle
noun (Concise Encyclopedia)Weedy species of Cirsium, Carduus, Echinops, Sonchus, and other plant genera of the aster family (Asteraceae). The term usually refers to prickly leaved species of Carduus and Cirsium, which have dense heads of small, usually pink or purple flowers. Because they have spiny stems and flower heads without ray flowers, Carduus species are called plumeless thistles. Canadian thistle (Cirsium arvense) is an attractive but troublesome weed in agricultural areas of North America. The thistle is the national emblem of Scotland. 1341
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