bull thistle

bull thistle

n. A biennial Eurasian thistle (Cirsium vulgare) in the composite family, naturalized in North America and having heads of purplish flowers and spiny stems and leaves.

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[From its large head.]

bull′ this`tle

n. a tall, spiny thistle, Cirsium vulgare, having heads of pink to purple flowers: a common weed in North America. [1860–65]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

bull thistle - European thistle with rather large heads and prickly leaves; extensively naturalized as a weed in the United Statesboar thistle, Cirsium lanceolatum, Cirsium vulgare, spear thistleplume thistle, plumed thistle - any of numerous biennial to perennial herbs with handsome purple or yellow or occasionally white flower heads