noun
Uncommon
thistle
thihsl
Thistle (noun) means a prickly plant with sharp-edged leaves and a spiky flower head, often purple. Example: “He pricked his finger picking through the thistles in the field.”
noun
1
A prickly plant with sharp-edged leaves and a spiky flower head, often purple.
"He pricked his finger picking through the thistles in the field."
2
The thistle plant as the national emblem of Scotland.
"The thistle appears on many pieces of Scottish regalia."
How to use thistle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spiky-leaved, usually purple-flowered weed — also famous as Scotland's national symbol.
Common pairings
prickly thistle
Scottish thistle
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Word forms
- Plural
- thistles
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He pricked his finger picking through the _____ in the field.
Etymology
From Old English þistel, an old Germanic word for this prickly plant.
Rhymes for thistle
See all rhymes for thistle →Frequently asked questions
What does “thistle” mean?
The word “thistle” means a prickly plant with sharp-edged leaves and a spiky flower head, often purple. In plain terms, a spiky-leaved, usually purple-flowered weed — also famous as Scotland's national symbol.
How do you pronounce “thistle”?
“Thistle” is pronounced thihsl (/θɪsl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “thistle” in a sentence?
Here is “thistle” used in a sentence: “He pricked his finger picking through the thistles in the field.”
What part of speech is “thistle”?
“Thistle” is a noun.
Where does the word “thistle” come from?
The word “thistle” comes from Old English. From Old English þistel, an old Germanic word for this prickly plant.
Is “thistle” a common word?
“Thistle” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “thistle” have?
“Thistle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a prickly plant with sharp-edged leaves and a spiky flower head, often purple.
