thistle

 
Pronunciation: /ˈθɪs(ə)l/

noun

  • 1a widely distributed herbaceous plant of the daisy family, which typically has a prickly stem and leaves and rounded heads of purple flowers.
    • Carlina, Carduus, and other genera, family Compositae
  • 2a plant of the thistle type as the Scottish national emblem.
    • This is usually identified as the cotton thistle (Onopordum acanthium)

Derivatives

thistly

adjective

Origin:

Old English thistel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch distel and German Distel