thistle

noun

this·​tle ˈthi-səl 

plural thistles

1

: any of various composite (see composite entry 1 sense 1b) flowering plants (especially genera Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum) that have prickles on their leaves and sometimes on their stems and often have showy heads of tubular, usually purple flowers

also : any of various other prickly plants

2

often thistle seed plural thistle seeds : the small black seed of a tropical African herbaceous plant (Guizotia abyssinica) used especially as a source of oil and for bird feed

thistly

ˈthi-s(ə-)lē 

adjective

Illustration of thistle

Examples of thistle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to sunflowers, goldfinches also love purple cone flowers, thistles, zinnias, Hooker’s evening primrose, milkweed and some weeds, including dandelions and pineapple weed. —Joan Morris, Mercury News, 1 June 2026

Finches, for example, favor thistle seed. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 May 2026

But the grass seed failed to take, and by fall, the only green left was thistles and crabgrass. —Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 14 May 2026

Its unique thistle-like flowers offer months of visual interest, blooming from late spring through fall and standing into winter. —Erica Browne Grivas, Midwest Living, 1 May 2026

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 at sense 1

Phrases Containing thistle

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

Rhymes for thistle

• abyssal
• dismissal
• epistle
• bristle
• fissile
• gristle
• missal
• missile
• nissl
• whistle

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