sow thistle

[ sou ]

/ saʊ /

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noun

any composite plant belonging to the genus Sonchus, especially S. oleraceus, a weed having thistlelike leaves, yellow flowers, and a milky juice.

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Origin of sow thistle

1200–50; Middle English sowethistel, earlier sugethistel.See sow², thistle

Words nearby sow thistle

sowens, Soweto, so what, sown, sow one's wild oats, sow thistle, sow wild oats, soy, soya bean, soybean, soybean oil

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use sow thistle in a sentence

But if you choose to conduct your discourse in 140-word snaps, or soundbites, then you reap the crop of dumb that you sow.
Why We Should Hate 'Haters Gonna Hate'|Tim Teeman|August 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The youngsters arrived at our border with the unspoken message that we reap what we sow.
The Deported L.A. Gangs Behind This Border Kid Crisis|Michael Daly|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You reap what you sow, and Republicans are paying the price for elevating a minority within their party.
Ghosts of the Confederacy Out in Force as Fringe Rules GOP|Eleanor Clift|October 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“Their lack of appreciation is obvious and quite frankly, they reap what they sow,” reads one.
The Bully Waging War Against Bullies|Lizzie Crocker|October 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST

But on Wednesday, two of its 15 stores were burned down, according to Atallah who believes the attacks were meant to sow discord.
Christians Under Attack|Mike Giglio, Sophia Jones|August 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But before he could even sow that year's crop, he would have to see a certain banker who lived in Nebraska.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
Blessed are ye that sow upon all waters, sending thither the foot of the ox and the ass.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
For ten acres, or fifty thousand hills, burn and sow three patches each of seventy-five square yards.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
If Peruvian guano is applied, sow on about three hundred pounds to the acre in connection with the domestic manure.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
A pint of meal and a pint of plaster to each rod, is a good mixture to sow in.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.

British Dictionary definitions for sow thistle

sow thistle

/ (saʊ) /

noun

any of various plants of the Old World genus Sonchus, esp S. oleraceus, having milky juice, prickly leaves, and heads of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)Also called: milk thistle, (NZ) puha, (NZ) rauriki

Word Origin for sow thistle

C13: from sugethistel, perhaps variant of Old English thugethistel, thuthistel thowthistle, a dialect name of the sow thistle. See sow ², thistle

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