noun
Uncommon
hawthorn
HAW-thawn
Hawthorn (noun) means a thorny shrub or small tree (genus Crataegus) with small, apple-like fruits, often used for hedging. Example: “The lane was lined with hawthorn hedges thick with white blossom.”
noun
1
A thorny shrub or small tree (genus Crataegus) with small, apple-like fruits, often used for hedging.
"The lane was lined with hawthorn hedges thick with white blossom."
"Birds love to nest deep inside a hawthorn bush, safe from the thorns."
"Proust, an author to whom Humboldt had introduced me and in whose work he gave me heavy instruction, said he was often attracted to people whose faces had something in them of a hawthorn hedge in bloom."
— Saul Bellow, Humboldt’s Gift (1976)
How to use hawthorn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA thorny hedge plant with small red berries, common in the British countryside.
Common pairings
hawthorn hedge
hawthorn blossom
hawthorn berries
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Word forms
- Plural
- hawthorns
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The lane was lined with _____ hedges thick with white blossom.
Etymology
From Old English hagaþorn, literally "hedge-thorn" — the same "haw" as in "haw" (an enclosure) plus "thorn."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “hawthorn” mean?
The word “hawthorn” means a thorny shrub or small tree (genus Crataegus) with small, apple-like fruits, often used for hedging. In plain terms, a thorny hedge plant with small red berries, common in the British countryside.
How do you pronounce “hawthorn”?
“Hawthorn” is pronounced HAW-thawn (/ˈhɔ.θɔɹn/ in IPA).
How do you use “hawthorn” in a sentence?
Here is “hawthorn” used in a sentence: “The lane was lined with hawthorn hedges thick with white blossom.”
What part of speech is “hawthorn”?
“Hawthorn” is a noun.
Where does the word “hawthorn” come from?
The word “hawthorn” comes from Old English. From Old English hagaþorn, literally "hedge-thorn" — the same "haw" as in "haw" (an enclosure) plus "thorn.".
Is “hawthorn” a common word?
“Hawthorn” is an uncommon word in modern English.
