thistle

n. [ OE. thistil, AS. þistel; akin to D. & G. distel, OHG. distila, distil, Icel. þistill, 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 (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), a handsomely colored American butterfly (Vanessa cardui) whose larva feeds upon thistles; -- called also painted lady. --
Thistle cock (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), 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 ]