bull thistle

American  

noun

1. a tall, spiny thistle, Cirsium vulgare, having heads of pink to purple flowers: a common weed in North America.

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Etymology

Origin of bull thistle

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Many wild American plants are edible but unavailable in supermarkets: dandelion, pig weed, bull thistle, skunk vine.

From Economist

Weeds are annuals, as pigweeds, crab grass, purslane; biennials as bull thistle and mulleins; perennials, like quack grass, Canada thistle, ox-eye Daisy.

From Project Gutenberg

No bull thistles, no hard winters, no narrer contracted fools; no long faces, an' plenty o' work.

From Project Gutenberg