Lexic.us

Definition of Thistle

1. Noun. Any of numerous plants of the family Compositae and especially of the genera Carduus and Cirsium and Onopordum having prickly-edged leaves.

Definition of Thistle

1. n. Any one of several prickly composite plants, especially those of the genera Cnicus, Craduus, and Onopordon. The name is often also applied to other prickly plants.

Definition of Thistle

1. Noun. Any of several perennial composite plants, especially of genera ''Cirsium, Carduus, Cynara ''or'' Onopordum'', having prickly leaves and showy flower heads with prickly bracts. ¹

2. Noun. This plant seen as the national emblem of Scotland. ¹

3. Noun. The Order of the Thistle, or membership thereof. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Thistle

1. a prickly plant [n -S]

Medical Definition of Thistle

1. Any one of several prickly composite plants, especially those of the genera Cnicus, Craduus, and Onopordon. The name is often also applied to other prickly plants. Blessed thistle, Carduus benedictus, so named because it was formerly considered an antidote to the bite of venomous creatures. Bull thistle, Cnicus lanceolatus, the common large thistle of neglected pastures. Canada thistle, Cnicus arvensis, a native of Europe, but introduced into the United States from Canada. Cotton thistle, Onopordon Acanthium. Fuller's thistle, the teasel. Globe thistle, Melon thistle, etc. See Globe, Melon, etc. Pine thistle, Atractylis gummifera, a native of the Mediterranean region. A vicid gum resin flows from the involucre. Scotch thistle, either the cotton thistle, or the musk thistle, or the spear thistle; all used national emblems of Scotland. Sow thistle, Sonchus oleraceus. Spear thistle. Same as Bull thistle. Star thistle, a species of Centaurea. See Centaurea. Torch thistle, a candelabra-shaped plant of the genus Cereus. See Cereus. Yellow thistle, Cincus horridulus. Thistle bird, the goldfinch; so called from its fondness for thistle seeds. Thistle funnel, a funnel having a bulging body and flaring mouth. Origin: OE. Thistil, AS. Thistel; akin to D. & G. Distel, OHG. Distila, distil, Icel. Thistill, Sw. Tistel, Dan. Tidsel; of uncertain origin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Thistle

Literary usage of Thistle

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"The Scotch or cotton thistle (Onopordon acanthium) is a biennial ... Some of its other popular thistle, a composite plant of the genera Carduus, Cirsium, ..."

2. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania by Royal Society of Tasmania (1871)
"The " Spear thistle " of England is what is called in Tasmania " The Scotch thistle ;" but it is not by any means peculiar to Scotland. ..."

3. The American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge by Charles Anderson Dana (1876)
"The other introduced species is C. arvensis, known as the creeping thistle in Europe, and in this country by the misnomer of the Canada thistle; ..."

4. The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge (1920)
"Several plants of other families have sometimes been called thistle from their apparent resemblance to true thistles. The best known of these are probably ..."

5. A Dictionary of English Plant-names by James Britten, Robert Holland (1886)
"Hal. "Wr. Ranunculus sceleratus, L. Thirlstane Grass. See Grass, Thirlstane. Prior (p. 206) has Thirlestane. thistle. (1) The general name for the genus ..."

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