Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Thorn
Thorn
,Noun.
[AS.
þorn
; akin to OS. & OFries. thorn
, D. doorn
, G. dorn
, Dan. torn
, Sw. törne
, Icel. þorn
, Goth. þaúrnus
; cf. Pol. tarn
, Russ. tern’
the blackthorn, ternie
thorns, Skr. tṛṇa
grass, blade of grass. √53.] 1.
A hard and sharp-pointed projection from a woody stem; usually, a branch so transformed; a spine.
2.
(Bot.)
Any shrub or small tree which bears thorns; especially, any species of the genus Crataegus, as the hawthorn, whitethorn, cockspur thorn.
3.
Fig.: That which pricks or annoys as a thorn; anything troublesome; trouble; care.
There was given to me a
thorn
in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. 2 Cor. xii. 7.
The guilt of empire, all its
Be only mine.
thorns
and cares,Be only mine.
Southern.
4.
The name of the Anglo-Saxon letter [GREEK], capital form [GREEK]. It was used to represent both of the sounds of English th, as in thin, then. So called because it was the initial letter of thorn, a spine.
Thorn apple
(Bot.)
, Jamestown weed.
– Thorn broom
(Bot.)
, a shrub that produces thorns.
– Thorn hedge
, a hedge of thorn-bearing trees or bushes.
– Thorn devil
. (Zool.)
See
– Moloch
, 2. Thorn hopper
(Zool.)
, a tree hopper (
Thelia crataegi
) which lives on the thorn bush, apple tree, and allied trees.Thorn
,Verb.
T.
To prick, as with a thorn.
[Poetic]
I am the only rose of all the stock
That never
That never
thorn'd
him. Tennyson.
Webster 1828 Edition
Thorn
THORN
, n.1.
A tree or shrub armed with spines or sharp ligneous shoots; as the black thorn; white thorn, &c. The word is sometimes applied to a bush with prickles; as a rose on a thorn.2.
A sharp ligneous or woody shoot from the stem of a tree or shrub; a sharp process from the woody part of a plant; a spine. Thorn differs from prickle; the latter being applied to the sharp points issuing from the bark of a plant and not attached to the wood, as in the rose and bramble. But in common usage, thorn is applied to the prickle of the rose, and in fact the two words are used promiscuously.3.
Any thing troublesome. St. Paul had a thorn in the flesh. 2 Cor.12. Num.33.4.
In Scripture, great difficulties and impediments. I will hedge up thy way with thorns. Hos.2.
5.
Worldly cares; things which prevent the growth of good principles. Matt.13.