thorn

n. [ 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. t&rsdot_;&nsdot_;a grass, blade of grass. √53. ] 1. A hard and sharp-pointed projection from a woody stem; usually, a branch so transformed; a spine. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Any shrub or small tree which bears thorns; especially, any species of the genus Crataegus, as the hawthorn, whitethorn, cockspur thorn. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fig.: That which pricks or annoys as a thorn; anything troublesome; trouble; care. [ 1913 Webster ]

There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. 2 Cor. xii. 7. [ 1913 Webster ]

The guilt of empire, all its thorns and cares,
Be only mine. Southern. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The name of the Anglo-Saxon letter &unr_;, capital form &unr_;. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]