Canada thistle

Canada thistle
Thistle This"tle, n. [OE. thistil, AS. [thorn]istel; akin to D. & G. distel, OHG. distila, distil, Icel. [thorn]istill, Sw. tistel, Dan. tidsel; of uncertain origin.] (Bot.) Any one of several prickly composite plants, especially those of the genera {Cnicus}, {Craduus}, and {Onopordon}. The name is often also applied to other prickly plants. [1913 Webster]

{Blessed thistle}, {Carduus benedictus}, so named because it was formerly considered an antidote to the bite of venomous creatures.

{Bull thistle}, {Cnicus lanceolatus}, the common large thistle of neglected pastures.

{Canada thistle}, {Cnicus arvensis}, a native of Europe, but introduced into the United States from Canada.

{Cotton thistle}, {Onopordon Acanthium}.

{Fuller's thistle}, the teasel.

{Globe thistle}, {Melon thistle}, etc. See under {Globe}, {Melon}, etc.

{Pine thistle}, {Atractylis gummifera}, a native of the Mediterranean region. A vicid gum resin flows from the involucre.

{Scotch thistle}, either the cotton thistle, or the musk thistle, or the spear thistle; -- all used national emblems of Scotland.

{Sow thistle}, {Sonchus oleraceus}.

{Spear thistle}. Same as {Bull thistle}.

{Star thistle}, a species of {Centaurea}. See {Centaurea}.

{Torch thistle}, a candelabra-shaped plant of the genus Cereus. See {Cereus}.

{Yellow thistle}, {Cincus horridulus}. [1913 Webster]

{Thistle bird} (Zo["o]l.), the American goldfinch, or yellow-bird ({Spinus tristis}); -- so called on account of its feeding on the seeds of thistles. See Illust. under {Goldfinch}.

{Thistle butterfly} (Zo["o]l.), a handsomely colored American butterfly ({Vanessa cardui}) whose larva feeds upon thistles; -- called also {painted lady}.

{Thistle cock} (Zo["o]l.), the corn bunting ({Emberiza militaria}). [Prov. Eng.]

{Thistle crown}, a gold coin of England of the reign of James I., worth four shillings.

{Thistle finch} (Zo["o]l.), the goldfinch; -- so called from its fondness for thistle seeds. [Prov. Eng.]

{Thistle funnel}, a funnel having a bulging body and flaring mouth. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Canada thistle — ☆ Canada thistle n. a prickly European weed (Cirsium arvense) of the composite family, with heads of purplish flowers and wavy leaves: now common as a fast spreading, injurious weed throughout the N U.S …   English World dictionary

  • Canada thistle — noun European thistle naturalized in United States and Canada where it is a pernicious weed • Syn: ↑creeping thistle, ↑Cirsium arvense • Hypernyms: ↑plume thistle, ↑plumed thistle …   Useful english dictionary

  • Canada thistle — noun Date: 1799 a European thistle (Cirsium arvense) with pinkish purple or white flowers naturalized as a weed in North America …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Canada thistle — noun Corn thistle …   Wiktionary

  • Canada thistle — an Old World plant, Cirsium arvense, having small purple or white flower heads, now a troublesome weed in North America. [1790 1800, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • Canada thistle — Can′ada this′tle n. pln an Old World prickly composite plant, Cirsium arvense, having small purple or white flower heads, now a troublesome weed in North America • Etymology: 1790–1800, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • Thistle — This tle, n. [OE. thistil, AS. [thorn]istel; akin to D. & G. distel, OHG. distila, distil, Icel. [thorn]istill, Sw. tistel, Dan. tidsel; of uncertain origin.] (Bot.) Any one of several prickly composite plants, especially those of the genera… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thistle bird — Thistle This tle, n. [OE. thistil, AS. [thorn]istel; akin to D. & G. distel, OHG. distila, distil, Icel. [thorn]istill, Sw. tistel, Dan. tidsel; of uncertain origin.] (Bot.) Any one of several prickly composite plants, especially those of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thistle butterfly — Thistle This tle, n. [OE. thistil, AS. [thorn]istel; akin to D. & G. distel, OHG. distila, distil, Icel. [thorn]istill, Sw. tistel, Dan. tidsel; of uncertain origin.] (Bot.) Any one of several prickly composite plants, especially those of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thistle cock — Thistle This tle, n. [OE. thistil, AS. [thorn]istel; akin to D. & G. distel, OHG. distila, distil, Icel. [thorn]istill, Sw. tistel, Dan. tidsel; of uncertain origin.] (Bot.) Any one of several prickly composite plants, especially those of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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