thistle

noun

this·​tle ˈthi-səl How to pronounce thistle (audio)
: 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 adjective

Illustration of thistle

Illustration of thistle

Examples of thistle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The butterflies are attracted to over 100 different kinds of flowers, states Gardenia, but prefer flowers from the Family Asteraceae, like thistles. Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 13 July 2024 For fall, Loro Piana made a bigger statement in jewelry as the thistle, that was used historically as a tool to raise and brush cashmere in its factory, was turned into golden pins that closed jacket collars. Luisa Zargani, WWD, 9 July 2024 Residents in those states looking to help native pollinators can join their local Bumble Bee Atlas chapter or fill their gardens with native flowers such as thistles, milkweed, sunflowers and rabbitbrush to provide more food to these busy bees. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2024 Use it on thistles, crabgrass, dandelions, and more. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for thistle 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thistle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of thistle was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near thistle

Cite this Entry

“Thistle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thistle. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

thistle

noun
this·​tle ˈthis-əl How to pronounce thistle (audio)
: any of various prickly plants related to the daisies and having often showy heads of mostly tubular flowers
thistly adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on thistle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!