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firethorn

American

[fahyuhr-thawrn] / ˈfaɪərˌθɔrn /

noun

any of several evergreen, thorny Asian shrubs belonging to the genus Pyracantha, of the rose family, many species of which are cultivated for their foliage and ornamental fruits.

firethorn British

/ ˈfaɪəˌθɔːn /

noun

any rosaceous evergreen spiny shrub of the genus Pyracantha , of SE Europe and Asia, having bright red or orange fruits: cultivated for ornament

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of firethorn

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Orchard Hills’ zone is filled with prickly pear cacti, Japanese honeysuckle and Formosa firethorn.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023