a. [ Compar. Thornier superl. Thorniest. ] [ Cf. AS. þorniht. ] 1. Full of thorns or spines; rough with thorns; spiny; as, a thorny wood; a thorny tree; a thorny crown. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Like a thorn or thorns; hence, figuratively, troublesome; vexatious; harassing; perplexing. “The thorny point of bare distress.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
The steep and thorny way to heaven. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Thorny rest-harrow (Bot.), rest-harrow. -- Thorny trefoil, a prickly plant of the genus Fagonia (Fagonia Cretica, etc.). [ 1913 Webster ]