thorn
A modified branch that is hard and sharp like a spike.
Other meanings
Any thorn-like structure on plants, such as the spine and the prickle.
Any shrub or small tree that bears thorns, especially a hawthorn.
“the white thorn”
Synonyms
- spine
Word history
From Old English "þorn".
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “thorn” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.