blackthorn

American  

[blak-thawrn] / ˈblækˌθɔrn /

noun

1. a shrub or tree of the genus Crataegus, as C. calpodendron.

2. a walking stick made of a blackthorn tree or shrub.

3. Also called sloe.  a much-branched, thorny, Old World shrub, Prunus spinosa, having white flowers and small plumlike fruits.

4. pear haw.

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blackthorn British  

/ ˈblækˌθɔːn /

noun

1. Also called: sloe.  a thorny Eurasian rosaceous shrub, Prunus spinosa , with black twigs, white flowers, and small sour plumlike fruits

2. a walking stick made from its wood

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Etymology

Origin of blackthorn

First recorded in 1350–1400, blackthorn is from Middle English blak thorn. See black, thorn

Example Sentences

He beat Roger Moore and Albert Finney to be cast as John Blackthorn - a captive English navigator in 17th Century Japan - in Shogun.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2025

Though shaped like a sea sponge or fungus, the newly-dubbed Blackthorn Salt is comprised of minerals that exist after Martian rocks interacted with water long ago.

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2022

During her career, Leisner covered the Mariel boatlift, the sinking of the Cutter Blackthorn and Skyway Bridge disaster where three dozen perished.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 4, 2019

In the 1960s and ’70s, she coordinated events for Blackthorn Stick, an Irish folk dance group.

From Washington Post • May 12, 2016

In the next moon, the Blackthorn Moon, the red eye would appear; and the power of the bear would grow stronger.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver