thistle

noun

this·​tle ˈthi-səl 

: 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

thistly

ˈthi-s(ə-)lē 

adjective

Illustration of thistle

Examples of thistle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The one real road is banked with thistles five feet high. —Antonia Quirke, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 May 2024

During scorching Spanish heat waves, Herrera measured the temperature inside thistle flower heads and the ambient air temperature less than an inch away. —Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 27 Feb. 2024

To help the birds survive the cold, Winger said, people can provide seeds in bird feeders or thistle feeders. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024

One tea bag delivers a blend of breast milk-boosting herbs, including fennel, anise, coriander, fenugreek, and blessed thistle. —Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Parents, 15 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English thistel, from Old English; akin to Old High German distill thistle

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing thistle

• bull thistle
• Canada thistle
• globe thistle
• milk thistle
• musk thistle
• Russian thistle
• sow thistle
• star thistle
• thistle tube

Kids Definition

thistle

noun

this·​tle ˈthis-əl 

: any of various prickly plants related to the daisies and having often showy heads of mostly tubular flowers

thistly

ˈthis-(ə-)lē 

adjective