† oxyacanthousadj.

Etymology: < scientific Latin oxyacanthus, specific epithet (see note; < post-classical Latin oxyacantha (later also oxyacanthus ) a shrub (see note) (6th cent.) < Hellenistic Greek ὀξυάκανθα (also ὀξυάκανθος ) a shrub with sharp thorns (see note) < ancient Greek ὀξυ- oxy- comb. form¹ + ἄκανθα thorn: see acanthus n.) + -ous suffix.The hawthorn Crataegus laevigata (formerly C. oxyacantha), barberry Berberis vulgaris, and pyracantha Pyracantha coccinea have all been thought to be the plant named by the Greek and post-classical Latin words. In later post-classical Latin use Oxyacantha (or, less frequently, Oxyacanthus) was applied especially to the hawthorn, and was used as a specific epithet by Linnaeus ( Species Plantarum (1753) I. 477).