thistle

[this-uhl]

noun

1. any of various prickly, composite plants having showy, purple flower heads, especially of the genera Cirsium, Carduus, or Onopordum.

2. any of various other prickly plants.

Thistle

¹

/ ˈθɪsəl /

noun

1. See Order of the Thistle

2. (sometimes not capital)

   1. the emblem of this Order

   2. membership of this Order

thistle

²

/ ˈθɪsəl /

noun

1. any of numerous plants of the genera Cirsium, Carduus , and related genera, having prickly-edged leaves, pink, purple, yellow, or white dense flower heads, and feathery hairs on the seeds: family Asteraceae (composites)

2. a thistle, or a representation of one, as the national emblem of Scotland

Other Word Forms

• thistlelike adjective
• thistly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thistle¹

before 900; Middle English thistel, Old English; cognate with Dutch distel, German Distel, Old Norse thistill

Word History and Origins

Origin of thistle¹

Old English thīstel, related to Old Saxon, Old High German thīstil, Old Norse thīstill

Example Sentences

But Russian thistle is a monstrous piece of botanical grotesquerie, loathed by all.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He wears goggles to protect them from brambles and thistles.

Read more on BBC

Researchers from the University of Cologne have found a new use for Cnicin, a substance produced in blessed thistle.

Read more on Science Daily

Saturday’s tumbleweed takeover of South Jordan is not isolated, but it’s also not a fiendish plan by the invasive Russian thistle to conquer the western United States.

Read more on Seattle Times

Q: I am wondering why you do not talk more about the benefits of milk thistle for high cholesterol.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• arrow 
• dart