thorn apple
[thawrn]
- any poisonous plant belonging to the genus Datura, of the nightshade family, the species of which bear capsules covered with prickly spines, especially the jimson weed, D. stramonium.
- the fruit of certain hawthorns of the genus Crataegus.
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Origin of thorn apple
First recorded in 1570–80
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for thorn apple
Historical Examples
Tar water is strongly recommended, and also the smoking of the dried leaves of stramonium, commonly called the thorn-apple.
But there is still greater brushiness in the thorn-apple (Fig. 209).
I chose a place in a field just below Old Howieson's farm, where there is a thorn-apple tree to sit or lie under.
Great PossessionsDavid Grayson
They walked back to the lane, cross-lots, and sat down under a thorn-apple tree.
Betty Gordon at Bramble FarmAlice B. Emerson
Observe the very short and spur-like twigs in the thorn-apple; also notice how soon the trunk is lost in the branches.
thorn apple
- a poisonous solanaceous plant, Datura stramonium, of the N hemisphere, having white funnel-shaped flowers and spiny capsule fruitsUS and Canadian name: jimson weed See also stramonium
- any other plant of the genus Datura
- the fruit of certain types of hawthorn
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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