Main Entry:

thorn

Pronunciation:

\ˈthȯrn\

Function:

noun

Usage:

often attributive

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German dorn thorn, Sanskrit tṛṇa grass, blade of grass

Date:

before 12th century

1: a woody plant bearing sharp impeding processes (as prickles or spines) ; especially : hawthorn2 a: a sharp rigid process on a plant ; specifically : a short, indurated, sharp-pointed, and leafless modified branch b: any of various sharp spinose structures on an animal3: the runic letter þ used in Old English and Middle English to represent either of the fricatives \th\ or \th\ and in Icelandic to represent \th\4: something that causes distress or irritation —often used in the phrase thorn in one's side

— thorned \ˈthȯrnd\ adjective

— thorn·less \ˈthȯrn-ləs\ adjective

— thorn·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective