Thorn

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /θɔːn/
• US IPA: /θɔɹn/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(r)n

Origin

From Middle English þorn and Old English þorn, from Proto-Germanic *þurnuz, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ter-n- ("sharp stalk or thorn"), possibly derived from *ster- ("stiff"). Near cognates include German Dorn and Gothic 𐌸𐌰𐌿𐍂𐌽𐌿𐍃. Further cognates include Old Church Slavonic трънъ (trŭnŭ, "thorn"), Albanian drizë ("a thorny shrub") and Sanskrit तृण (tṛṇa, "grass").

Noun

1. A sharp protective spine of a plant.
2. Any shrub or small tree that bears thorns.the white thorn; the cockspur thorn
3. (figurative) That which pricks or annoys; anything troublesome.
• Bible, 2 Corinthians xii. 7There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.
• SouthThe guilt of empire, all its thorns and cares,
  Be only mine.
4. A letter of the Latin alphabet (capital: Þ, small: þ), borrowed by Old English from the futhark to represent a dental fricative, then not distinguished from eth, but in modern use (in Icelandic and other languages, but no longer in English) used only for the voiceless dental fricative found in English thigh
• See also Etymology of ye (definite article).

Derived terms

Full definition of thorn

Verb

1. To pierce with, or as if with, a thorn
• 1869, w, Old Town Folks, Such, however, has been the sin of ritualism in all days, principally because ...
  human nature is, above all things, lazy, and needs to be thorned and goaded up those heights where it ought to fly.
• 2003, Scott D. Zachary, Scorn This, Even Judge Bradley's callused sentiments were thorned by the narration of Jaclyn's journals.

Anagrams

• north, North
• Rt Hon