Star thistle

Star 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:

  • Star thistle — Star Star (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. sta[ i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. asth r, a stron,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • star thistle — n. any of several European plants (genus Centaurea) of the composite family; esp., an annual weed ( C. maculosa) now common in NE U.S. * * * …   Universalium

  • star thistle — n. any of several European plants (genus Centaurea) of the composite family; esp., an annual weed ( C. maculosa) now common in NE U.S …   English World dictionary

  • star thistle — noun : any of various plants of the genus Centaurea: as a. : an annual or biennial herb (Centaurea calcitrapa) having a basal rosette of deeply toothed leaves, a much branched stem, and axillary or terminal heads of pinkish to purple tubular… …   Useful english dictionary

  • star thistle — noun Date: 1578 1. a widely naturalized spiny Old World knapweed (Centaurea calcitrapa) with purple flowers called also caltrops 2. any of various knapweeds related to the star thistle …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • star-thistle — bajorė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Astrinių (Asteraceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Centaurea). atitikmenys: lot. Centaurea angl. blue cap; centaury; cornflower; dusty miller; knapweed; star thistle vok. Bisamknopf; Flockenblume; Kornblume… …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • star thistle — /sta ˈθɪsəl/ (say stah thisuhl) noun any of various plants of the genus Centaurea, with a star shaped cluster of spines surrounding the flowers …  

  • star-thistle — noun Mediterranean annual or biennial herb having pinkish to purple flowers surrounded by spine tipped scales; naturalized in America • Syn: ↑caltrop, ↑Centauria calcitrapa • Hypernyms: ↑centaury …   Useful english dictionary

  • purple star thistle — noun : star thistle a …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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

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