buckthorn

noun

buck·thorn | \ ˈbək-ˌthȯrn

Definition of buckthorn

1 : any of a genus (Rhamnus of the family Rhamnaceae, the buckthorn family) of often thorny trees or shrubs some of which yield purgatives or pigments

2 : a shrub or small tree (Bumelia lycioides) of the sapodilla family of the southern U.S.

Examples of buckthorn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There was a big batch of Snaps being infused with sea buckthorn, an acidic fruit that grows near the sea in the summer and plastic containers full of hazelnuts steeping in Snaps, which will appear on the fall menu. — Laura Itzkowitz, Vogue, "How Local Nordic Ingredients Are Transforming Copenhagen's Cocktail Scene," 15 Oct. 2018 Not new, but still worth mentioning, is the Omorovicza Miracle Facial Oil, a silky elixir formulated with the superstar ingredient, plus an array of hydrating oils, including sea buckthorn berry, rosehip, and sweet almond. — Macaela Mackenzie, Allure, "What Is Bakuchiol? Experts Explain the Benefits of the Natural Alternative to Retinol," 7 Sep. 2018 There, try locally made licorice, sea-buckthorn juice, and, of course, smoked herring—traditionally served with egg yolk and rye bread, also called Sol over Gudhjem, the dish that gave the fest its name. — Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Places to Travel in June," 9 May 2018 Volunteers will clean debris in and around the river, remove buckthorn and other invasive species near the waterway, and also help with native wildflower plantings in Heritage Park. — Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, "Things to do in metro Detroit for the week of May 13," 15 May 2018 Participants will spend the rest of June and most of July scouring woods and removing buckthorn, Japanese barberry and other invasive plant species. — Ted Slowik, Daily Southtown, "Slowik: Teens discover benefits of working summers in forest preserves," 27 June 2018 The organic feel of the piece fits in perfectly at Noma, where chef René Redzepi pioneered foraging for underused local ingredients such as sea buckthorn and reindeer moss. — James Clasper, New York Times, "Artist to Know: the Danish Sculptor Making Objects for Noma," 13 June 2018 The Eiseles strive to increase biodiversity throughout the property, including efforts to plant native prairie species and to remove invasive plants such as garlic mustard and buckthorn. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Fulfillment on Gobbler's Ridge comes from more than just harvesting turkeys," 12 May 2018 The lingonberries and sea buckthorn used in Selma’s homemade sodas find new life as preserves, which are paired with tiny vintage Scandinavian oyster forks and sturdy spelt crackers. — Aliza Abarbanel, Bon Appetit, "Hesperios Founder Autumn Hruby Just Opened a Cafe in Her Dreamy Manhattan Shop," 21 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'buckthorn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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The first known use of buckthorn was in 1578

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buckthorn

noun

buck·thorn | \ ˈbək-ˌthȯ(ə)rn

Medical Definition of buckthorn

: a shrub or tree of the genus Rhamnus sometimes having thorny branches and often containing purgative principles in bark or sap and producing fruits sometimes used as a source of yellow and green dyes or pigments — see cascara buckthorn