thornn.
/θɔːn/, U.S. /θɔrn/ I. A spike or prickle, and related uses.
1. A stiff, sharp-pointed, straight or curved woody process on the stem or other part of a plant; a spine, a prickle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > thorn or prickle > [noun]
thornc950
pileOE
prickOE
pikec1300
spine1430
pricklec1484
brodc1550
sting1567
point1604
spears1607
stob1637
pin1650
pricket1663
spinet1672
aculeus1702
pricker1743
spicula1753
acicula1784
acicule1800
acicle1852
thornlet1882
sticker1889
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > [noun] > a sharp prominence > specifically of a natural object
thornc950
prickle1567
prong1698
spine1750
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xxvii. 29 Ða cempo..ymbworhton ða bege of ðornum, gesetton ofer heafud his.
OE Crist III 1445 Þa hi hwæsne beag ymb min heafod heardne gebygdon, þream biþrycton, se wæs of þornum geworht.
c1000 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 139/21 Spina, þorn.
c1000 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 139/22 Tribulus, þorn.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 207 He hadde..þornene helm, and þe þornes swiðe prikeden.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Prov. xxvi. 9 If a thorun [a1425 L.V. thorn] be growen in the hond of the drunken.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17774 Wit thorns crund als was he.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17137 Þe thornnes o mi hede standes.
c1400 Lanfranc's Cirurg. 166 Of woundis of þornis.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope iii. i As he ranne, a thorne entred into his foote.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. ii. 175 Like one lost in a Thornie Wood, That rents the Thornes, and is rent with the Thornes. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iv. 256 Flours of all hue, and without Thorn the Rose. View more context for this quotation
1672 N. Grew Anat. Veg. iv. App. 124 Thorns are of two kinds, Lignous and Cortical.
1776 W. Withering Brit. Plants (1796) II. 104 Capsules..awl-shaped, scored, tapering and ending in a double thorn or awn.
1776 W. Withering Brit. Plants (1796) II. 350 Fruit-stalks forming bunches: thorns 3 together.
1867 J. Hogg Microscope (ed. 6) ii. i. 324 Thorns, such as those of the rose, are aborted branches.
1880 A. Gray Struct. Bot. iii. §3 55 A Spine or Thorn is usually..the termination of a stem or branch, indurated, leafless, and attenuated to a point.
1912 N.E.D. at Thorn Prov. There is no rose without a thorn.
2. figurative (or in figurative context): Anything that causes pain, grief, or trouble; in various metaphors, similes, and proverbial expressions, as a thorn in the flesh or side, a constant affliction, a source of continual grief, trouble, or annoyance; (to be, sit, stand, walk) on thorns (a thorn), (to be, etc.) in a painful state of anxiety or suspense.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > a harmful thing or person > thing
thornc1230
plaguea1382
foea1393
evila1400
flaw1481
detriment?1504
tooth1546
fang1555
decay1563
bane1577
dagger1600
scourge1603
cursea1616
blighter1821
bacillus1883
the mind > emotion > suffering > mental anguish or torment > cause of mental anguish or torment > [noun]
roodOE
thornc1230
prickc1384
rack?a1425
travailerc1450
goading1548
twinge1548
goad1553
tormentor1553
cut1568
stingera1577
butcher1579
torture1612
bosom-devil1651
wound1844
knife-edge1876
nemesis1933
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of annoyance or vexation > [noun] > cause of annoyance or vexation
thornc1230
dreicha1275
painc1375
cumbrance1377
diseasec1386
a hair in one's necka1450
molestationc1460
incommodity?a1475
melancholya1475
ensoigne1477
annoyance1502
traik1513
incommode1518
corsie1548
eyesore1548
fashery1558
cross1573
spite1577
corrosive1578
wasp1588
cumber1589
infliction1590
gall1591
distaste1602
plague1604
rub1642
disaccommodation1645
disgust1654
annoyment1659
bogle1663
rubber1699
noyancea1715
chagrins1716
ruffle1718
fasha1796
nuisance1814
vex1815
drag1857
bugbear1880
nark1918
pain in the neck (also arse, bum, etc.)1933
sod1940
chizz1953
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > [noun] > one who or that which harasses
pursuera1382
running sore1453
pesta1522
gall1537
grater1549
plaguer1598
afflicter1600
inflicter1605
a thorn in the flesh or side1611
incubus1648
cumber1669
harasser1707
scunner1796
tin kettle1796
pester1810
pesterer1824
baitera1845
pestilence1886
nudnik1916
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > state of uncertainty, suspense > be in suspense [verb (intransitive)]
dependc1430
to hang up1623
to be on (the) tenter(s1633
to be on (the) tenterhooks1748
(to be, sit, stand, walk) on thorns (a thorn)1768
c1230 Hali Meid. 9 Ha lickeð huni of þornes: ha buggen al þat swete wið twa dale of bittre.
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde iii. 1055 (1104) Ye, Nece, wole ye pulle out þe þorn [v.r. thorne] That stiketh in his herte.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 159 Welth, wardly gloir and riche array Ar all bot thornis laid in thy way.
1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus i. iii. sig. Gjv I see how thou standest vpon thornes.
1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer ii. sig. M.ii Ye poore gentilwoman stood vpon thornes, and thought an houre a thousande yeare till she were got from him.
c1580 tr. Bugbears iii. ii, in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1897) 99 I sytt all on thornes till that matter take effect.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet i. v. 87 Those thornes that in her bosome lodge. View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) Num. xxxiii. 55 Those which ye let remaine of them, shall be..thornes in your sides. View more context for this quotation
1611 Bible (King James) 2 Cor. xii. 7 Least I should bee exalted aboue measure..there was giuen to me a thorne in the flesh [1526 Tind. vnquyetnes of, 1557 Gen. a pricke in the fleshe], the messenger of Sathan to buffet me. View more context for this quotation
a1698 W. Temple Introd. Hist. Eng. 93 No Prince ever came so early into the Cares and Thorns of a Crown.
1768 Earl of Carlisle in J. H. Jesse G. Selwyn & his Contemp. (1843) II. 316 I should have been upon thorns till you had wrote.
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals v. i Virtuous love..shall pluck the thorn from compunction.
1822 J. Galt Provost xlv. 331 The perverse views..of that Yanky thorn-in-the-side, Mr. Hickery.
1853 E. C. Gaskell Cranford vii. 100 Peggy wanted now to make several little confidences to her, which Miss Barker was on thorns to hear.
1866 J. Bryce Holy Rom. Empire (new ed.) xii. 210 The Eastern Church was then, as she is to this day, a thorn in the side of the Papacy.
1886 C. E. Pascoe London of To-day (ed. 3) xxx. 274 Not far from the grave of Elizabeth and Mary is that of the former's thorn in life, Mary of Scotland.
1913 D. H. Lawrence Sons & Lovers xiii. 379 He was on thorns to be gone from so trying a situation.
1923 D. H. Lawrence Stud. Classic Amer. Lit. ii. 21 Probably I haven't got over those Poor Richard tags yet. I rankle still with them. They are thorns in young flesh.
1924 E. M. Forster Passage to India iv. 34 I can be a thorn in Mr. Turton's flesh, and if he asks me I accept the invitation.
1929 J. Buchan Courts of Morning ii. iii. 187 You've given me a thorn to lie on, just when I was feeling comfortable.
1946 W. S. Maugham Then & Now xxxi. 187 The family that had been for so long a thorn in the flesh of the Vicars of Christ.
1977 E. Quinn tr. Küng & Lapide Brother or Lord 36 Jesus was undoubtedly a thorn in the flesh for many Saducees.
3.
a. A spine or spiny process in an animal.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > covering or skin > [noun] > hard or protective covering > spine
pikec1300
thornc1300
awl1340
prickle1567
prick1631
spine1753
acicula1784
acicule1800
acicle1852
c1300 [implied in: Havelok (Laud) (1868) 759 Þe Butte, þe schulle, þe þornebake. (at thornback n. 1a)].
1711 [implied in: J. Petiver Gazophylacii VI. Table LX Sea Porcupine... This thorny Fish is a sort of Sea Hedge-hog. (at thorny adj. 1b)].
1744 [implied in: P. H. Zollman tr. in Philos. Trans. 1742–3 (Royal Soc.) 42 463 Those Caterpillars which, from the Figure and the Stiffness of their Hairs, have been called the Thorny ones. (at thorny adj. 1b)].
1756 [implied in: T. Amory Life John Buncle I. 246 The perch [with] the thorny fins on its back. (at thorny adj. 1b)].
1860 [see thorn-mussel n. at Compounds 2b]. b. Histology. (See quots.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > substance > cell > types of cells > [noun] > cells with reference to staining
neutrophil1897
basophil1898
chromophil1899
thorn1899
acidophil1900
chromophobe1909
phaeochromocyte1929
1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VI. 490 The dendrons are possessed of numerous minute lateral projections, gemmules, spines, or ‘thorns’ as they have been variously called.
1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VIII. 325 Dr. Alexander Hill believes the so-called ‘thorns’ to be organic structures, which are not shewn in their entirety by the chrome-silver method; and that a thorn is really the cell-end of an unstainable nerve filament, surrounded by a film of staining cell plasm.
c. plural. In Lace-making, Pointed projections used to decorate the cordonnet, etc., in point-lace.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > needle or point > parts of
pin work?1726
thorns1874
spine1882
1874 Queen Lace Bk. i. 18 Little loops, knots, or knobs..called Pearls, Thorns, or Picots.
1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 490/2 Thorns. Used in Needlepoints to decorate the Cordonnets and raised parts of the lace. See Spines.
d. thorn needle n. Disused = fibre needle n. at fibre n. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > record > recording or reproducing sound or visual material > sound recording and reproduction > sound recording or reproducing equipment > [noun] > record-playing equipment > needle or stylus
stylus1879
needle1902
pin1911
needlepoint1929
sapphire1943
thorn needle1950
1950 Vogue Aug. 98/2 Intellectuals often have an E.M.G. gramophone..and they play with thorns, not steels.
1973 Amateur Photographer 3 Jan. 33/2 A ‘thorn’ needle was composed of some soft woody or fibrous substance, which was ground to a point in a special machine.
II. A plant which bears thorns, and related uses.
4.
a. A plant which bears thorns or prickles; a bramble or brier; a prickly bush, shrub, or tree; a thorn-tree or thorn-bush; esp. any species of the genus Cratægus; in England, spec. the Hawthorn or White-thorn ( C. Oxyacantha).In early Old English þyrne weak feminine:—*þurnjōn.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > [noun] > thorn-tree
thorna700
brierc1000
thorn-bushc1330
nettle bush?c1475
thorn-tree1483
thornlet1865
a700 [implied in: Epinal Gloss. 19 Alba spina, haeguthorn. (at hawthorn n. 1)].
c725 Corpus Gloss. (O.E.T.) 1834 Sentes, ðornas.
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxiii Swa hwa swa wille sawan westmabære land, atio ærest of ða þornas & þa fyrsas & fearn & ealle þa weod.
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. xiii. 7 Oðro uutedlice gefeollon in ðornum..& woxon ða ðornas..& underdulfon ða.
c1000 Ælfric Genesis iii. 18 Þornas and bremelas heo asprit þe.
1045 Charter Edward in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 98 On ðane greatan þorn ðe stynt wið Grimes dic.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 9212 Þurrh þorrness. & þurrh breress Þær shulenn beon ridinngess nu.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1334 Faste in ðornes he sag a sep.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Judges ix. 14 And alle the trees seiden to the thorn, Com, and comaund thow vpon us.
c1450 Godstow Reg. 34 Fowre burdyns of thornys of her wood of Cumnore.
1542 H. Brinkelow Lamentacion sig. Bv Do brears bring forth fygges, or thornes grapes?
1615 W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden (1623) Pref. Curious conceits..inoculating Roses on Thornes, and such like.
1751 T. Gray Elegy xxix. 11 Grav'd on the stone beneath yon aged thorn.
1800 W. Wordsworth Hart-leap Well 33 Dismounting, then, he leaned against a thorn.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. I. 344/2 The thorns [Cratægus] are natives of Europe, North America, and the temperate regions of Asia and Africa.
1882 Garden 24 June 449/1 Thorns, white, pink, and crimson..have been very beautiful.
b. (without article). Thorn bushes or branches collectively; also, the wood of a thorn-tree.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > [noun] > thorn-tree > collectively
thornc1330
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > wood of specific trees > [noun] > wood of other specific trees
thornc1330
poplara1450
asp1551
angelin1670
dogwood1670
serpent-wood1681
locust wood1742
canarium1776
stave-wood1778
lacewood1803
Canary wood1820
chestnut1823
brier-wood1868
jasmine-wood1870
angelique1873
sakura1911
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > wood of specific trees > [noun] > wood of other specific trees > rod or branch of
thornc1330
turpentine rod1632
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 14 Sibriht,..Þat a suynhird slouh vnder a busk of thorn.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xii. 228 Þe pyes..þere þe þorne is thikkest..buylden and brede.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 928 Brembel and thorn it sal te yeil[d].
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 16437 Þai crond him wit þorn.
a1513 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen in Poems (1998) I. 41 Throw pykis of the plet thorne I presandlie luikit.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet i. iv. 26 It is too rough, Too rude, too boystrous, and it pricks like thorne . View more context for this quotation
?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses (new ed.) xiv. 17 The inner part..Which with an hedge of Thorn he fenc't about.
1712 A. Pope Messiah in Spectator No. 350 Sandy Vallies, once perplex'd with Thorn.
1912 N.E.D. at Thorn Mod. Thorn is a hard wood, and makes good cudgels.
c. figurative (or in figurative language). Sometimes alluding to the parable of the sower, Matthew 13:7.
ΚΠ
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xxxii. 12 Full of thornes & brers of synnes.
1735 S. Johnson tr. J. Lobo Voy. Abyssinia 47 Little besides the Name of Christianity is to be found here, and the Thorns may be said to have choaked the Grain.
1820 P. B. Shelley Ode to West Wind iv, in Prometheus Unbound 191 I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed.
1849 W. Irving Oliver Goldsmith (rev. ed.) xxxvii. 318 The thorns which beset an author in the path of theatrical literature.
5. (Short for thorn-moth n. at Compounds 2b.) Collectors' name for various geometrid moths.Applied originally to species whose larvæ feed on the hawthorn or kindred plants.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > Heterocera > [noun] > family Geometridae > thorn
thorn1832
1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 105 Geometra (Leach)... The September Thorn (G. erosaria).
1832 J. Rennie Conspectus Butterflies & Moths Brit. 106 The Angled Thorn (G. angularia).
1869 E. Newman Illustr. Nat. Hist. Brit. Moths 57 The September Thorn (Ennomos erosaria).
III. The name of a letter.
6. The name of the Old English and Icelandic runic letter þ (= th); named, like other runes, from the word of which it was the initial.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > written character > name of written character > [noun] > runic or Old English or Middle English
asha1000
thornc1000
wynnc1300
thorn-letter1902
c1000 Runic Poem (Gr.) iii Þorn byð þearle scearp.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xv. 71 Þ and ȝ, whilk er called þorn and ȝok.
1885 E. M. Thompson in Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 160/1 The English letter thorn, þ, survived and continued in use down to the 15th century.
Compounds
C1. With qualifying words used to distinguish species and varieties of Cratægus, and to designate various other thorny plants: as See also blackthorn n., boxthorn n., buckthorn n., camel-thorn n., Christ's thorn n., Glastonbury thorn n. at Glastonbury n., goat's thorn n., hawthorn n., lily thorn n. at lily n. and adj. Compounds 3, mouse-thorn n. at mouse n. Compounds 2c, orange thorn n. at orange n.1 and adj.1 Compounds 2d, purging thorn n. at purging adj. Compounds, sallow thorn n. at sallow n. Compounds 2, scorpion-thorn n., whitethorn n.
aronia thorn n. Cratægus Aronia.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > thorny berry-bush > [noun] > hawthorn and allies
hawthorna700
hawthorn-treec1290
whitethorna1300
haw-treec1325
albespyne?a1425
thorn-tree1483
mespilus1548
may-branch1560
quickthorn1571
hedge-bush1576
busket1579
May-bush1579
Neapolitan medlar1597
azarole1658
pyracanth1664
white bush1676
Glastonbury thorna1697
quick1727
evergreen thorn1731
blackthorn1737
whitethorn1788
oriental medlar1797
haw1821
May-haw1840
Maythorn1844
May1848
pear thorn1848
pink thorn1852
aronia thorn1882
scarlet thorn1882
black haw1897
1882 Garden 12 Aug. 145/3 The Aronia Thorn..is a moderate-growing tree.
buffalo thorn n. Acacia latronum, an Indian tree.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > acacia trees > [noun]
acacia1542
babul1696
marblewood1753
black wattle1802
popinac1809
wattlec1810
wattle-treec1810
giraffe tree1815
haakdoring1822
hookthorn1822
kameeldoorn1822
camel-thorn1824
catechu-tree1829
silver wattle1832
blackthorn1833
thorny acacia1834
boobyalla1835
seyal1844
mulga1848
thorn-wood1850
hackthorn1857
mimosa1857
poison tree1857
Port Jackson1857
talha1857
golden wattle1859
whitethorn acacia1860
buffalo thorn1866
nelia1867
siris1874
cassie1876
couba1878
needlebush1884
sallow wattle1884
sally1884
giddea1885
prickly Moses1887
yarran1888
opopanax tree1889
wait-a-while1889
fever tree1893
giraffe acacia1896
stay-a-while1898
brigalow1901
wirra1904
cootamundra1909
Sydney golden wattle1909
witchetty bush1911
rooikrans1917
jam-tree1934
whistling thorn1949
blackthorn1966
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. Buffalo Thorn, Acacia latronum.
Egyptian thorn n. Acacia vera, one of the trees which produce gum-arabic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular tree or plant yielding useful gum or resin > [noun] > Mediterranean and Middle Eastern > gum arabic trees
Egyptian thorn1731
kikar1883
1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I Acacia, Egyptian Thorn or Binding Bean Tree.
1860 R. G. Mayne Expos. Lexicon Med. Sci. Egyptian Thorn,..Acacia vera, the gum-arabic tree.
elephant thorn n. Acacia tomentosa ( Treasury Bot. 1866).
evergreen thorn n. Cratægus Pyracantha, an ornamental evergreen bearing a profusion of red berries in clusters during winter.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > thorny berry-bush > [noun] > hawthorn and allies
hawthorna700
hawthorn-treec1290
whitethorna1300
haw-treec1325
albespyne?a1425
thorn-tree1483
mespilus1548
may-branch1560
quickthorn1571
hedge-bush1576
busket1579
May-bush1579
Neapolitan medlar1597
azarole1658
pyracanth1664
white bush1676
Glastonbury thorna1697
quick1727
evergreen thorn1731
blackthorn1737
whitethorn1788
oriental medlar1797
haw1821
May-haw1840
Maythorn1844
May1848
pear thorn1848
pink thorn1852
aronia thorn1882
scarlet thorn1882
black haw1897
1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Mespilus The Pyracantha or Ever-green Thorn.
Jerusalem thorn n. Parkinsonia aculeata, a spiny shrub found in tropical regions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > thorn-tree or -bush > [noun] > non-British varieties
fingrigo1707
cockspura1726
thorny trefoil1760
narra1779
driedoring1824
wild Irishman1850
matagouric1857
tumata-kuru1859
Irishman1860
Jerusalem thorn1866
nabk1874
ilb1894
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. II. 847/2 P[arkinsonia] aculeata, called in Jamaica the Jerusalem Thorn.
Mysore thorn n. Cæsalpinia sepiaria, a leguminous plant.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > leguminous plants > [noun] > other leguminous plants
peaseOE
vetchc1400
hatchet vetch1548
mock liquorice1548
scorpion's tail1548
ax-fitch1562
ax-seed1562
axwort1562
treacle clover1562
lady's finger1575
bird's-foot1578
goat's rue1578
horseshoe1578
caterpillar1597
kidney-vetch1597
horseshoe-vetch1640
goat rue1657
kidney-fetch1671
galega1685
stanch1726
scorpion senna1731
Dolichos1753
Sophora1753
partridge pea1787
bauhinia1790
coronilla1793
swamp pea-tree1796
Mysore thorn1814
devil's shoestring1817
pencil flower1817
rattlebox1817
Canavalia1828
milk plant1830
joint-vetch1836
milk pea1843
prairie clover1857
oxytrope1858
rattleweed1864
wart-herb1864
snail-flower1866
poison pea1884
masu1900
money bush1924
Townsville stylo1970
orange bird's-foot2007
1814 W. Roxburgh Hortus Bengalensis 32 Cæsalpinia sepiaria, Mysore Thorn.
Spanish hedgehog thorn n. some species of the genus Anthyllis.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > thorn-tree or -bush > [noun] > other thorn-trees
paliurec1384
paliurusa1398
sea-willow1548
Christ's thorn1553
buckler-thorn1562
garland-thorn1597
goat's thorn1597
Jews thorn1597
milk-vetch1597
sea-buckthorn1731
Spanish hedgehog thorn1760
sensitive briar1802
lily thorn1816
sallow thorn1847
cat-brier1875
1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 329 Thorn, Spanish Hedgehog, Anthyllis.
C2.
a.
(a) General attributive.
thorn-acacia n.
ΚΠ
1861 Chambers's Encycl. at Locust Tree The locust-tree of America is also called the false acacia, or thorn acacia.
thorn avenue n. (see bed n. 8).
thorn-bed n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > garden > division or part of garden > [noun] > bed or plot > other bed
weedery1642
spring bed1684
thorn-bed1844
1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm I. 374 The ditch is thus marked out ready for the formation of the thorn-bed.
thorn-cover n. (see cover n.1 4).
ΚΠ
1850 R. G. Cumming Five Years Hunter's Life S. Afr. (1902) 158/2 We halted..beside several acres of thorn-cover.
thorn fence n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > a barrier > [noun] > hedge or fence > a fence > of other specific materials
wall of timber1463
battening1788
thorn fence1843
1843 Farmers' Cabinet 15 Jan. 184/1 Our fences are either the worm, post-and-rail, or thorn.
1946 L. G. Green So Few are Free 226 Deep in the mountains they discovered a high thorn fence, obviously a man-made obstruction.
thorn-fire n.
thorn forest n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > fertile land or place > land with vegetation > [noun] > wooded land > types of
ripplelOE
wildwooda1122
rough1332
firth?a1400
tod stripec1446
osiard1509
bush1523
bush-ground1523
fritha1552
island1638
oak landc1658
pinelandc1658
piney wood1666
broom-land1707
pine barrenc1721
pine savannah1735
savannah1735
thick woods1754
scrub-land1779
olive wood1783
primeval forest1789
open wood1790
strong woods1792
scrub1805
oak flata1816
sertão1816
sprout-land1824
flatwoods1841
bush-land1842
tall timber1845
amber forest1846
caatinga1846
mahogany scrub1846
bush-flat1847
myall country1847
national forest1848
selva1849
monte1851
virgin forest1851
bush-country1855
savannah forest1874
bush-range1879
bushveld1879
protection forest1889
mulga1896
wood-bush1896
shinnery1901
fringing forest1903
monsoon forest1903
rainforest1903
savannah woodland1903
thorn forest1903
tropical rainforest1903
gallery forest1920
cloud forest1922
rain jungle1945
mato1968
1903 W. R. Fisher tr. A. F. W. Schimper Plant-geogr. i. iii. 260 The Thorn-forest..is very rich in underwood.
1960 N. Polunin Introd. Plant Geogr. xiv. 442 Tropical thorn-forests..are usually still more xerophilous.
thorn grove n.
thorn-holt n.
ΚΠ
c1450 Godstow Reg. 208 Half a rode of lond, liyng in the thorneholte in the feldes of halso.
thorn jungle n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > fertile land or place > land with vegetation > [noun] > jungle
jungle1776
belukar1849
shola1862
ulu1878
thorn jungle1913
boonies1954
1913 ‘Saki’ When William Came vi. 102 We have somewhere to go to..better than the scrub and the veldt and the thorn-jungles.
1936 Discovery Nov. 337/1 The City of the Lake, buried deep in thorn jungle, through which we cut a path.
thorn kloof n.
thorn-prick n.
ΚΠ
1858 C. Rossetti From House to Home 63 I felt no thorn-prick when I plucked a flower.
thorn-puncture n.
thorn scrub n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > wood or assemblage of trees or shrubs > [noun] > thicket, brake, or brush > of thorn-bushes
thorn-ronea1400
thorn scrub1903
1903 R. Kipling Five Nations 54 The thickets dwined to thorn-scrub, and the water drained to shallows.
1974 R. Adams Shardik lviii. 496 This is a country of thorn-scrub and fine, blowing sand.
thorn stick n.
ΚΠ
1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. ii. 33 A stout thorn-stick in his hand.
thorn-sting n.
thorn thicket n.
thorn-twig n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > part of tree or woody plant > [noun] > bough or branch > twig
stickeOE
twigc950
yardc950
sprintlea1250
ricec1275
twistc1374
sarmenta1398
tinea1400
lancec1400
pirnc1450
shred15..
shrubc1530
shrag1552
taunt1567
ramelet1652
hag wood1804
hag1808
fibre1810
twiglet1849
virgultum1866
thorn-twig1895
twigling1907
1895 G. B. Shaw Let. 31 Aug. (1965) I. 556 I lay there looking up peacefully at the moon through..the laced thorntwigs of the briar.
thorn woodland n.
ΚΠ
1903 W. R. Fisher tr. A. F. W. Schimper Plant-geogr. iii. iv. 492 Thorn-woodland appears..on very permeable, dry, sandy soil.
1960 N. Polunin Introd. Plant Geogr. xiv. 442 Grasses are often lacking in the drier thorn-woodlands.
(b) Objective, etc.
(i)
thorn-bearer n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > thorn or prickle > [noun] > thorny plant
thorn-bearer1894
1894 G. Allen in Westm. Gaz. 8 May 2/1 They [nettles] make a practice of sheltering themselves under..stouter and taller thorn-bearers.
thorn-eater n.
ΚΠ
1642 J. Milton Apol. Smectymnuus 32 This obscure thorn-eater of malice and detraction, as well as of Quodlibets and Sophisms.
(ii)
thorn-like adj.
ΚΠ
1899 J. Cagney tr. R. von Jaksch Clin. Diagnosis (ed. 4) viii. 413 The resulting cultivation is marked with..thorn-like processes projecting from it.
thorn-proof adj. (also as noun, sc. ‘material’).
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric with specific qualities > [noun] > other
grisette1700
mesh1725
poodle1827
albatross1877
momie1880
velvet-cloth1882
mummy cloth1886
poodle cloth1896
thorn-proof1908
blackout1941
wash-and-wear1959
breathable1961
Pertex1982
1908 Daily Chron. 25 Apr. 9/5 A Beeston Humber bicycle, of roadster type, fully equipped with special thorn-proof tyres and a metal gear-case.
1955 W. Gaddis Recognitions iii. iv. 846 Engulfed in the flow of a tartan lap robe and folds of Irish thorn-proof, he stared fixedly at an open book.
1978 Birds Spring 3/2 (advt.) Gamefair Jacket... In natural olive Beacon Thornproof.
thorn-resisting adj.
(c) Instrumental.
thorn-bound adj.
thorn-covered adj.
thorn-encompassed adj.
thorn-marked adj.
thorn-pricked adj.
ΚΠ
1564 T. Harding Answere to Iuelles Chalenge xvii. f. 167v That thorne prikte, naileboared, sperepearsed, and other wise woonded, rent, and torne body.
thorn-set adj.
ΚΠ
1757 J. Dyer Fleece i. 10 Haughty trees..that weaken thorn-set mounds.
thorn-strewn adj.
thorn-wounded adj.
ΚΠ
1820 P. B. Shelley Prometheus Unbound i. i. 49 Let that thorn-wounded brow Stream not with blood.
thorn-wreathed adj.
b. Special combinations. See also thorn-apple n., thorn-bush n., etc.† thorn-beak n. Obsolete the garfish, Belone vulgaris. † thorn-broom n. Obsolete (a) the petty whin, Genista anglica; (b) the common furze.† thorn-but n. [butt n.1] Obsolete ? = thornback n. 1. † thorn-garth n. Obsolete an enclosure protected by a thorn-hedge.† thorn-grape n. Obsolete the gooseberry. † thorn-hog n. Obsolete a hedgehog. † thorn-rone n. Obsolete a brake or undergrowth of thorns.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > order Perciformes (perches) > order Atheriniformes > [noun] > member of family Belonidae (gar-fish)
horn-fishOE
hornkeckc1425
garfishc1440
horn-stocka1485
green-bone1525
hornbeak1565
thorn-beak1570
horn-back1598
needlefish1601
spit-fish1601
sea-needle1603
ganefish1611
snacot-fish1611
greenbacka1682
bill-fisha1757
gar1767
sea-pike1769
saury1771
gar-pike1776
sea-snipea1832
mackerel guide1835
long-nose1836
gore-fish1839
gorebill1862
mackerel-scout1880
Long Tom1881
snipe-eel1882
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Riv/2 A Hornbeak, fish... A Thornbeak.
thornberry n. (the fruit of) the hawthorn.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > thorny berry-bush > [noun] > hawthorn and allies > fruit of
hawa1000
red haw1717
thornberry1766
peggle1826
pixie-pear1865
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > thorny berry-bush > [adjective] > of or resembling hawthorn
quickthorned1567
pyracanthine1880
thornberry1934
1766 Ld. Fife Let. 30 Nov. in Ld. Fife & his Factor (1925) ii. 36 Tell Thos. Reid that his Information as to there being no Thornberrys this season is wrong.
1886 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names 467 Thornberries. Fruit of Cratægus Oxyacantha.
1934 E. Reynard Narrow Land v. 248 The Dover cliff was a thornberry scratch compared with what befell Cape Cod.
thorn-bill n. (a) a hummingbird of the South American genus Rhamphomicron; (b) any of several small warblers of the genus Acanthiza or a closely related genus, found in Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > [noun] > subfamily Acanthizinae
thorn-bill1861
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Apodiformes > [noun] > family Trochilidae (humming-bird) > unspecified and miscellaneous types of
zumbador1758
sunbeam1769
black warrior1831
hermit-bird1837
Anna's hummingbird1839
jacobin1843
straight-tail1843
vervain hummingbird1847
wedge-bill1848
fiery topaz1854
sungem1856
wood-star1859
calliope1861
rainbow1861
sabre-wing1861
sawbill1861
swallowtail1861
sword-bill1861
thorn-bill1861
visor-bearer1861
warrior1861
wood-nymph1861
puffleg1869
calliope hummingbird1872
flame-bearer1882
shear-tail1885
plature1890
rainbow starfrontlet1966
1861 J. Gould Humming Birds III. Pl. 188 Ramphomicron Ruficeps—Red-capped Thorn-Bill.
1870 P. Gillmore tr. L. Figuier Reptiles & Birds 471 The Thornbills..are American birds.
1911 J. A. Leach Austral. Bird Bk. 141 These birds..have been called Thornbills by Mr. A. J. North.
1933 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 Apr. 27/1 The yellow-tailed thornbill constructs a double nest, the lower cavity..containing the eggs.
1964 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 17 Oct. 2/1 There is a species or more of Thornbill in every mainland State.
1975 I. Rowley Bird Life iii. 40 The real diminutives forage..by rapid and nearly continuous searching of ground or shrub layer as by wrens and thornbills.
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Categories »
thorn-bird n. a South American bird, Anumbius acuticaudatus (allied to the ovenbird n.), which builds a large domed nest of thorny twigs (Webster, 1890).
thorn-bit n. ? a bit with a sharp projection which pricks the horse's mouth; also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > horse-gear > [noun] > bit
kevela1300
barnaclea1382
bitc1385
molanc1400
bridle bit1438
snafflea1533
titup1537
bastonet?1561
cannon?1561
scatch1565
cannon bit1574
snaffle-bit1576
port mouth1589
watering snaffle1593
bell-bit1607
campanel1607
olive1607
pear-bit1607
olive-bit1611
port bit1662
neck-snaffle1686
curb-bit1688
masticador1717
Pelham1742
bridoon1744
slabbering-bit1753
hard and sharp1787
Weymouth1792
bridoon-bit1795
mameluke bit1826
Chiffney-bit1834
training bit1840
ring snaffle1850
gag-snaffle1856
segundo1860
half-moon bit1875
stiff-bit1875
twisted mouth1875
thorn-bit1886
Scamperdale1934
bit-mouth-
1886 R. Kipling Departm. Ditties (1899) 90 The colt who is wise will abstain from the terrible thorn-bit of Marriage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > thorn-tree or -bush > [noun] > gorse or furze
gorsec725
furzec888
whinc1400
fur1440
quice tree1440
whin-bush1483
furzen bush1530
thorn-broom1578
thorny broom1597
fursell1639
dwarf furze1650
French furze1659
ulex1753
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball vi. ix. 668 Genistilla, Furze or thorne Broome groweth in vntoyled places.
1597 J. Gerard Herball iii. 1140 In English Furze, Furzen bushes, Whinne, Gorsse, and Thorne Broome.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Hypotremata > [noun] > family Rajidae > raia clavata (thornback)
thornbackc1300
maid1569
fork-fish1601
rock ray1611
maid-fish1665
thorn-but1668
thorny-back1811
roker1860
thornback ray1862
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > seafood > [noun] > fish > skate
thornbackc1300
skatec1340
thorn-but1668
thorny-back1811
thornback ray1862
1668 W. Charleton Onomasticon Zoicon 149 Rhombus..Qui est vel Aculeatus, the Thorn-but.
1736 R. Ainsworth Thes. Linguæ Latinæ The thornbut, Rhombus aculeatus.
thorn-catcher n. a device attached to a bicycle or motor car, to extract thorns and the like from the tire as the wheel rotates.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > vehicles according to means of motion > vehicle moving on wheels > [noun] > parts of vehicle moving on wheels > wheel > rubber or pneumatic tyre > device to extract thorns
thorn-catcher1901
1901 Daily Chron. 1 June 8/7 A great many punctures can be nipped in the bud, so to speak, by employing thorn-catchers.
thorn-devil n. name of an Australian lizard, Moloch horridus; = Moloch n. 3.
thorn-fly n. (also hawthorn-fly, thorn-tree fly) a kind of artificial fly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > means of attracting fish > [noun] > artificial fly > types of
moor flylOE
drake-flya1450
dub-flya1450
dun cut1496
dun fly1496
louper1496
red fly1616
moorish fly1635
palmer1653
palmer fly1653
red hackle1653
red palmer1653
shell-fly1653
orange fly1662
blackfly1669
dun1676
dun hackle1676
hackle1676
mayfly1676
peacock fly1676
thorn-tree fly1676
turkey-fly1676
violet-fly1676
whirling dun1676
badger fly1681
greenfly1686
moorish brown1689
prime dun1696
sandfly1700
grey midge1724
whirling blue1747
dun drake?1758
death drake1766
hackle fly1786
badger1787
blue1787
brown-fly1787
camel-brown1787
spinner1787
midge1799
night-fly1799
thorn-fly1799
turkey1799
withy-fly1799
grayling fly1811
sun fly1820
cock-a-bondy1835
brown moth1837
bunting-lark fly1837
governor1837
water-hen hackle1837
Waterloo fly1837
coachman1839
soldier palmer1839
blue jay1843
red tag1850
canary1855
white-tip1856
spider1857
bumble1859
doctor1860
ibis1863
Jock Scott1866
eagle1867
highlander1867
jay1867
John Scott1867
judge1867
parson1867
priest1867
snow-fly1867
Jack Scott1874
Alexandra1875
silver doctor1875
Alexandra fly1882
grackle1894
grizzly queen1894
heckle-fly1897
Zulu1898
thunder and lightning1910
streamer1919
Devon1924
peacock1950
1799 tr. Laboratory (ed. 6) II. x. 310 Thorn-fly. Dubbing of black lamb's wool; warped with black silk.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > enclosing or enclosure > [noun] > an enclosed space or place > an enclosed piece of ground > by a thorn-hedge
thorn-gartha1340
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter lxxxviii. 39 Thou distroyd all his thorne garthis.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > berry > [noun] > gooseberry
gooseberry?1533
groser1548
dewberry1578
thorn-grape1578
feaberry1597
goosegog1823
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > edible berries > gooseberry
gooseberry?1533
groser1548
St John's berry1561
dewberry1578
thorn-grape1578
feaberry1597
pearl gooseberry1688
wineberry1703
dayberry1736
honey-blob1746
blobc1750
groset1786
goosegog1823
Worcesterberry1923
golden berry1930
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball vi. xix. 681 Vua spina, whiche may be Englished, Thorne grape.
thorn-head n. (Webster, 1890).
thorn-headed worm n. one of the Acanthocephala, intestinal parasitic worms having the proboscis furnished with hooks or spines.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > phylum Nemathelminthes > [noun] > member of Acanthocephala
thorn-headed worm1888
acanthocephalan1889
acanthocephalid1924
1888 P. H. Pye-Smith Fagge's Princ. & Pract. Med. (ed. 2) II. 234 An acanthocephalous or thornheaded worm, Echinorrhynchus sp., has only once been certainly discovered in the human intestine.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > [noun] > order Insectivora > family Erinaceidae (hedgehog)
ilc897
iles pil?c1225
irchepilc1290
irchinc1290
hurcheonc1325
urchina1340
thorn-hog1340
hedgehoga1450
herisson?1590
land-urchin1603
hedge-piga1616
hotchi-witchi1843
porcupine1847
furze-pig1865
gypsies' pig1928
tiggy1938
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 66 Þe þorn-hog þet ys al ywryȝe myd prikyinde eles.
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thorn-hopper n. a tree-hopper, Thelia cratægi, which frequents thorny shrubs ( Cent. Dict. 1891).
thorn house n. in salt-making by the graduation method, a structure in which weak brine is caused to trickle over piles or high walls of thorns and brushwood giving a large surface for evaporation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > salt manufacture > [noun] > equipment
pail1481
walling-lead1611
walma1661
Neptune1662
loot1669
ship1669
clearerc1682
cribc1682
barrow1686
hovel1686
leach-trough1686
salt-pan1708
sun pond1708
sun pan1724
scrape-pan1746
taplin1748
drab1753
room1809
thorn house1853
thorn-wall1853
fore-heater1880
pike1884
trunk1885
1853 C. Tomlinson Cycl. Useful Arts (1854) II. 654/1 [At Moutiers] There are four evaporating houses called Maisons d'Epines or thorn-houses.
1879 G. Gladstone in Cassell's Techn. Educator IV. 353/1 Thorn houses..are gigantic erections consisting of a skeleton of timber filled in with thorn bushes..the water trickles down over the ends of the twigs.
thorn-letter n. the runic letter þ: = sense 6.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > written character > name of written character > [noun] > runic or Old English or Middle English
asha1000
thornc1000
wynnc1300
thorn-letter1902
1902 Skeat in Athenæum 22 Nov. 684/1 The words ‘that’ and ‘this’ and ‘the’ all begin, in the MS., with the usual thorn-letter.
thorn-lizard n. = thorn-devil n.
thorn-locust n. the common honey-locust tree of North America, Gleditschia triacanthos.
thorn-moth n. = sense 5.
thorn-mussel n. a pinna.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Pelecypoda or Conchifera > [noun] > section Asiphonida > family Pinnidae > genus Pinna > member of
jambon1753
sea-silkworm1822
bysso-ark1854
thorn-mussel1860
1860 F. C. L. Wraxall Life in Sea vi. 143 The great Thorn-mussel (Pinna) of the Mediterranean.
thorn oyster n. popular name of bivalves of the family Spondylidæ, in which the older specimens have the lower valve spiny; also thorny oyster.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Pelecypoda or Conchifera > [noun] > section Asiphonida > family Spondylidae > member of
thorn oyster1860
1860 F. C. L. Wraxall Life in Sea viii. 208 They [species of Spondyli] are distinguished by bright colours, but more especially by the long thorns and spurs with which they are covered, and for this reason they are also called Thorn Oysters.
thorn-quick n. a young thorn-plant for a hedge.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > wood or assemblage of trees or shrubs > [noun] > planted, cultivated, or valued > hedge or hedgerow > thorn-hedge
thorn-hedge1560
prick-hedge1601
thorn-quick1755
stagger1793
1755 Forfeited Estates Papers (S.H.S.) 92 [He] has raised..since 1740 no less than 1,676,147 Thorn Quicks.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > wood or assemblage of trees or shrubs > [noun] > thicket, brake, or brush > of thorn-bushes
thorn-ronea1400
thorn scrub1903
a1400 Sc. Trojan War ii. 2437 And has bot one small hole but dout In-to þat thorn-rone, richt secre.
thorn-shell n. a spiny shellfish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > phylum Mollusca > [noun] > Testacea (shelled molluscs) > shelled mollusc
turbo1661
univalve1668
scale-shell1713
turbinate1802
testacean1842
thorn-shell1860
stump1875
ecardine1878
1860 F. C. L. Wraxall Life in Sea viii. 209 A wondrously beautiful Thorn Shell.
thorn-stone n. a concretion deposited on the faggots in a thorn house (see quot. 1848).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > salt manufacture > [noun] > deposit in thorn house
thorn-stone1848
1848 E. Ronalds & T. Richardson tr. F. Knapp Chem. Technol. I. 266 The thorns become gradually covered with a thick coating (thorn-stone), consisting of carbonates of lime, magnesia, manganese, and protoxide of iron.
1885 C. G. W. Lock Workshop Receipts 4th Ser. 153/1 [The fagots] have to be changed every 2 years or so, on account of a deposit of calcium carbonate (‘thornstone’) which coats them.
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thorn-swine n. a porcupine ( Cent. Dict. 1891).
thorn-tail n. popular name of the hummingbirds of the South American genus Gouldia, distinguished by a long pointed tail.
thorn-tailed adj. having a tail resembling a thorn, or with thorn-like processes; thorn-tailed agama, an agamoid lizard of the genus Uromastix, having the tail cased with rings of spiny scales.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > rump and tail > [adjective] > relating to the tail > having a tail > having a pointed tail > like a thorn
thorn-tailed1783
1783 J. Latham Gen. Synopsis Birds II. ii. 463 Thorn-tailed Warbler... Inhabits Terra del Fuego.
1888 Cassell's Encycl. Dict. VII. at Uromastix Thorn-tailed Agamas..from the south of Russia..and Central India.
thornveld n. South African veld in which Acacias predominate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > fertile land or place > land with vegetation > [noun] > specific plants
briery1552
mushroom earth1731
tule1837
native bush1853
thornveld1878
fellfield1909
1878 A. Aylward Transvaal of To-day xii. 246 Four young men, all Africanders, nearly lost their lives in the Speckboom thornveld.
1936 L. Herrman in N. Isaacs Trav. & Adventures Eastern Afr. I. ii. 19 His ‘panthers’ are the small dark-skinned leopards of the thornveld.
1972 E. Palmer & N. Pitman Trees Southern Afr. I. iii. 81 In the thornveld of Zululand, Acacia karoo, Acacia nilotica, Acacia caffra,..and Acacia tortilis subsp. heteracantha are frequent.
thorn-wall n. in salt-making: cf. thorn house n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > salt manufacture > [noun] > equipment
pail1481
walling-lead1611
walma1661
Neptune1662
loot1669
ship1669
clearerc1682
cribc1682
barrow1686
hovel1686
leach-trough1686
salt-pan1708
sun pond1708
sun pan1724
scrape-pan1746
taplin1748
drab1753
room1809
thorn house1853
thorn-wall1853
fore-heater1880
pike1884
trunk1885
1853 C. Tomlinson Cycl. Useful Arts (1854) II. 656/1 The Saxon method of graduation by the use of thorn-walls.
thorn-wood n. (a) a wood of thorns; (b) (thornwood) a South African tree (perhaps Acacia Natalitia, the South African Wattle); also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > non-British trees or shrubs > acacia trees > [noun]
acacia1542
babul1696
marblewood1753
black wattle1802
popinac1809
wattlec1810
wattle-treec1810
giraffe tree1815
haakdoring1822
hookthorn1822
kameeldoorn1822
camel-thorn1824
catechu-tree1829
silver wattle1832
blackthorn1833
thorny acacia1834
boobyalla1835
seyal1844
mulga1848
thorn-wood1850
hackthorn1857
mimosa1857
poison tree1857
Port Jackson1857
talha1857
golden wattle1859
whitethorn acacia1860
buffalo thorn1866
nelia1867
siris1874
cassie1876
couba1878
needlebush1884
sallow wattle1884
sally1884
giddea1885
prickly Moses1887
yarran1888
opopanax tree1889
wait-a-while1889
fever tree1893
giraffe acacia1896
stay-a-while1898
brigalow1901
wirra1904
cootamundra1909
Sydney golden wattle1909
witchetty bush1911
rooikrans1917
jam-tree1934
whistling thorn1949
blackthorn1966
1850 R. Gordon-Cumming Five Years Hunter's Life S. Afr. II. xix. 58 The damaged axletree broke short across... I then set about making a false axletree of tough thorn-wood.
1863 W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting vi. 148 A beautiful country of dense thornwood.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
thornv.
/θɔːn/, U.S. /θɔrn/ Now rare.† 3. To attach or pin together with thorns. Obsolete.
1. transitive. To make thorny, to furnish with thorns; esp. to protect (a newly planted quick-set hedge or the like) with dead thorn-bushes. Also absol.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > protect or defend [verb (transitive)]
shieldc825
frithc893
werea900
i-schield971
berghOE
biwerec1000
grithc1000
witec1000
keepc1175
burghena1225
ward?c1225
hilla1240
warrantc1275
witiec1275
forhilla1300
umshadea1300
defendc1325
fendc1330
to hold in or to warrantc1330
bielda1350
warisha1375
succoura1387
defencea1398
shrouda1400
umbeshadow14..
shelvec1425
targec1430
protect?1435
obumber?1440
thorn1483
warrantise1490
charea1500
safeguard1501
heild?a1513
shend1530
warrant1530
shadow1548
fence1577
safekeep1588
bucklera1593
counterguard1594
save1595
tara1612
target1611
screenc1613
pre-arm1615
custodite1657
shelter1667
to guard against1725
cushion1836
enshield1855
mind1924
buffer1958
the world > food and drink > farming > hedging > make or repair hedge [verb (transitive)] > protect hedge
thorn1483
the world > space > shape > fact or condition of tapering > condition of tapering to a point > make pointed [verb (transitive)]
thorn1483
acuminate1611
cuspidate1623
spiculate1623
spike1688
1483 Cath. Angl. 384/1 To Thorne, dumare, spinare, dumere esse vel fieri, -escere.
1541 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1885) III. 382 For thorns and for thornyng of wylo settes.
1579 in J. Barmby Memorials St. Giles's, Durham (1896) 1 Payde..for thornynge the wicke for saufegayrde of the shepe.
1784 Robinson Let. in Notes & Queries (1863) 3rd Ser. IV. 342/2 [I] set a man to hedge and thorn.
1875 R. Browning Aristophanes' Apol. 39 Vowel-buds thorned about with consonants.
2. To prick with or as with a thorn; to vex.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of annoyance or vexation > be annoyed or vexed by [verb (transitive)] > annoy or vex
gremec893
dretchc900
awhenec1000
teenOE
fretc1290
annoyc1300
atrayc1320
encumberc1330
diseasec1340
grindc1350
distemperc1386
offenda1387
arra1400
avexa1400
derea1400
miscomforta1400
angerc1400
engrievec1400
vex1418
molesta1425
entrouble?1435
destroublea1450
poina1450
rubc1450
to wring (a person) on the mailsc1450
disprofit1483
agrea1492
trouble1515
grig1553
mis-set?1553
nip?1553
grate1555
gripe1559
spitec1563
fike?1572
gall1573
corsie1574
corrosive1581
touch1581
disaccommodate1586
macerate1588
perplex1590
thorn1592
exulcerate1593
plague1595
incommode1598
affret1600
brier1601
to gall or tread on (one's) kibes1603
discommodate1606
incommodate1611
to grate on or upon1631
disincommodate1635
shog1636
ulcerate1647
incommodiate1650
to put (a person) out of his (her, etc.) way1653
discommodiate1654
discommode1657
ruffle1659
regrate1661
disoblige1668
torment1718
pesta1729
chagrin1734
pingle1740
bothera1745
potter1747
wherrit1762
to tweak the nose of1784
to play up1803
tout1808
rasp1810
outrage1818
worrit1818
werrit1825
buggerlug1850
taigle1865
get1867
to give a person the pip1881
to get across ——1888
nark1888
eat1893
to twist the tail1895
dudgeon1906
to tweak the tail of1909
sore1929
to put up1930
wouldn't it rip you!1941
sheg1943
to dick around1944
cheese1946
to pee off1946
to honk off1970
to fuck off1973
to tweak (a person's or thing's) tail1977
to tweak (a person's or thing's) nose1983
to wind up1984
to dick about1996
to-teen-
1592 Countess of Pembroke tr. R. Garnier Antonius i. sig. Gv And thousand thousand woes Our heau'nly soules now thorne.
1592 Countess of Pembroke tr. R. Garnier Antonius iii. sig. K This grief, nay rage,..thornes me still.
1778 Saberna 16 A ruffian he!.. Who stole a rose, and thorn'd the heart it blest!
1811 Coleridge Let. in J. P. Collier Seven Lect. (1856) p. lvii The perplexities with which..I have been thorned and embrangled.
1876 Ld. Tennyson Harold i. i. 19 I am the only rose of all the stock That never thorn'd him.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > fastening > fasten [verb (transitive)] > with pins or pegs > with specific type
thorn1605
poniard1620
dowel1712
toggle1836
pivot1842
safety-pin1892
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. i. 362 With their sundry locks, thorn'd each to other, Their tender limbes they hide.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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