thorn apple

American  

[thawrn] / θɔrn /

noun

1. 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.

2. the fruit of certain hawthorns of the genus Crataegus.

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thorn apple British  

noun

1. US and Canadian name: jimson weed.  a poisonous solanaceous plant, Datura stramonium, of the N hemisphere, having white funnel-shaped flowers and spiny capsule fruits See also stramonium

2. any other plant of the genus Datura

3. the fruit of certain types of hawthorn

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Etymology

Origin of thorn apple

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

The plant that caused a baby spinach recall in Australia was thorn apple, a nightshade, The Guardian reports.

From New York Times • Dec. 21, 2022

These contain thorn apple, a common term for the botanist's Datura stramonium, also known as Jimson weed.

From Time Magazine Archive

The nearest object it showed was a high, broad-branched thorn apple tree.

From Andy the Acrobat by Harkness, Peter T.

The Harvester drew a deep breath and continued: "These I just have named I take at bloom time; next month come purple thorn apple, jimson weed, and hemlock."

From The Harvester by Stratton-Porter, Gene

With these words he went upward among the tree-tops; and the thorn apple pricked him.

From Old Indian Legends by Zitkala-Sa