thorn apple

noun

1
: jimsonweed
also : any plant of the same genus
2
: the fruit of a hawthorn
also : hawthorn

Examples of thorn apple in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But during the Bronze Age, European shamans would have had to use the plants available to them, the study suggests, including such nightshades as mandrake, henbane, thorn apple and joint pine. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 13 Apr. 2023 Atropine and scopolamine, powerful hallucinogens, can be found in plants in the nightshade family, among them mandrake, henbane and thorn apple. Andrew Jacobs, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2023 This looks like jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), also called thorn apple because of its spiky fruit. oregonlive, 5 Oct. 2019

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

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thorn apple was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near thorn apple

Cite this Entry

“Thorn apple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorn%20apple. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

thorn apple

noun
: jimsonweed
also : any plant of the genus Datura
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