A thistle is a wild plant which has leaves with sharp points and purple flowers.
thistle in British English
(ˈθɪsəl)
noun
1.
any of numerous plants of the genera Cirsium,Carduus, and related genera, having prickly-edged leaves, pink, purple, yellow, or white dense flower heads, and feathery hairs on the seeds: family Asteraceae (composites)
2.
a thistle, or a representation of one, as the national emblem of Scotland
Derived forms
thistly (ˈthistly)
adjective
Word origin
Old English thīstel, related to Old Saxon, Old High German thīstil, Old Norse thīstill
Thistle in British English
(ˈθɪsəl)
noun
the Thistle
1. Order of the Thistle
2. (sometimes not capital)
a.
the emblem of this Order
b.
membership of this Order
thistle in American English
(ˈθɪsəl)
noun
any of various plants (as genera Onopordum, Cirsium, and Cnicus) of the composite family, with prickly leaves and heads of white, purple, pink, or yellow flowers; esp., the Scotch thistle (O. acanthium) with white down and lavender flowers
Word origin
ME thistel < OE, akin to Ger distel < IE base *(s)teig-, a point > stick, Sans tiktá, sharp
Milk thistle works first by acting as an antioxidant.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Milk thistle may benefit those who drink too much over the holidays.
The Sun (2007)
Milk thistle aids the liver in cleansing the blood.
Colette Harris, With Theresa Cheung PCOS DIET BOOK: How you can use the nutritional approach to deal with polycysticovary syndrome (2002)
Milk thistle first seems to have made its appearance here on the office scene in connection with alcohol.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
On grassy banks, small and large skippers are feeding on thistle flowers and the pink wild basil.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
WHY are the leaves on my globe thistle turning brown?
The Sun (2015)
Milk thistle gets its name from the milky white sap that comes from the plant's leaves when it is crushed.
The Sun (2012)
Keep taking a milk thistle supplement, it will help your liver cope with the toxic overload of all that booze.
The Sun (2008)
I was also advised to take the herb milk thistle to encourage the blood flow to my skin and clear out toxins.
Colette Harris, With Theresa Cheung PCOS DIET BOOK: How you can use the nutritional approach to deal with polycysticovary syndrome (2002)
I got the Scottish lion and thistle to remember my dad.
The Sun (2015)
Milk thistle has been around a long time and there is evidence it can help mild liver damage, including that caused by excess alcohol.
The Sun (2007)
Milk thistle seems fairly safe too, so it could be worth a try if you've been overdoing the sauce.
The Sun (2007)
Globe artichokes are members of the thistle family and, with their robust leaves and inedible choke, they can seem rather arduous to prepare.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Like hundreds of others, I have found that taking milk thistle seems to have an almost magical effect on digestion.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They are the unopened flower bud of a member of the thistle family; if left to grow, they will bloom with a head of bright purple.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
thistle
British English: thistle /ˈθɪsl/ NOUN
A thistle is a wild plant which has leaves with sharp points and purple flowers.
American English: thistle
Arabic: نَبَاتُ الشَّوْك
Brazilian Portuguese: cardo
Chinese: 蓟
Croatian: čkalj
Czech: bodlák
Danish: tidsel
Dutch: distel
European Spanish: cardo
Finnish: ohdake
French: chardon
German: Distel
Greek: γαϊδουράγκαθο
Italian: cardo
Japanese: アザミ
Korean: 엉겅퀴
Norwegian: tistel
Polish: oset
European Portuguese: cardo
Romanian: ciulin
Russian: чертополох
Latin American Spanish: cardo
Swedish: tistel
Thai: พันธุ์ไม้มีหนามจำพวกหนึ่ง
Turkish: deve dikeni
Ukrainian: чортополох
Vietnamese: cây kẽ
All related terms of 'thistle'
sow thistle
any of various plants of the Old World genus Sonchus, esp S. oleraceus, having milky juice , prickly leaves, and heads of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae ( composites )
globe thistle
any of various Old World, thistlelike, composite plants of the genus Echinops , having dense heads of tubular blue or white flowers
milk thistle
any of various plants of the Old World genus Sonchus, esp S. oleraceus, having milky juice , prickly leaves, and heads of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae ( composites )
musk thistle
a thistle , Carduus nutans , native to North America and Eurasia
star thistle
any of several plants of the genus Centaurea , esp C. calcitrapa , of Eurasia , which has spiny purplish flower heads: family Asteraceae ( composites )
Canada thistle
a prickly European weed ( Cirsium arvense ) of the composite family, with heads of purplish flowers and wavy leaves: now common as a fast-spreading, injurious weed throughout the N U.S.
carline thistle
a Eurasian thistle-like plant, Carlina vulgaris, having spiny leaves and flower heads surrounded by raylike whitish bracts : family Asteraceae ( composites )
Russian thistle
a spiny weed ( Salsola kali ) of the goosefoot family: it matures into a spherical tumbleweed
woolly thistle
a tall perennial plant; Cirsium eriophorum
creeping thistle
a weedy Eurasian thistle , Cirsium arvense, common as a fast-spreading weed in the US
Order of the Thistle
an ancient Scottish order of knighthood revived by James VII of Scotland in 1687. It consists of the sovereign , 16 knights brethren, and extra members created by statute . It is the equivalent of the Order of the Garter , and is usually conferred on Scots