hawthorn

American  

[haw-thawrn] / ˈhɔˌθɔrn /

noun

1. any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Crataegus, of the rose family, typically a small tree with stiff thorns, certain North American species of which have white or pink blossoms and bright-colored fruits and are cultivated in hedges.

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hawthorn British  

/ ˈhɔːˌθɔːn /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain): may.   may tree.   mayflower.  any of various thorny trees or shrubs of the N temperate rosaceous genus Crataegus, esp C. oxyacantha, having white or pink flowers and reddish fruits (haws)

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Other Word Forms

• hawthorny
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hawthorn

before 900; Middle English; Old English haguthorn, cognate with Middle Dutch hagedorn, Middle High German hagendorn, Old Norse hagthorn. See haw ³, thorn

Example Sentences

The hedge-born man conceived in a hookup under the hawthorn bushes in 17th-century Britain was the direct linguistic ancestor of today’s naked short-sellers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

An array of whole peeled tangerines, strawberries, hawthorn berries and green and red grapes glistened on my phone screen like jewels you only admire but can’t touch.

From Salon • Mar. 25, 2025

The scheme also included “duck-blood products from unapproved establishments in China,” as well as hawthorn fruit — a restricted agricultural commodity, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2024

The authors note that we still need high-quality clinical trials to confirm the benefits of hawthorn leaf extract in cardiovascular disease.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 18, 2023

But that is all right because he is a part of the flowers and the apple tree and the hawthorn bush now.

From "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon