| 释义 |
Definition of hookthorn in English: hookthornnoun ˈhʊkθɔːn South African Any of various trees or shrubs having hooked thorns, typically spaced in pairs along the branches, especially (a) (more fully "hookthorn acacia") a common tree of grassland and bushveld in southern Africa, Acacia caffra (family Fabaceae), with rough grey bark and a twisted trunk; (b) the blackthorn of southern Africa, Acacia mellifera subsp. detinens, a low-growing shrub or tree of dry lowlands with closely-spaced dark thorns.
Origin Early 19th century; earliest use found in William Burchell (1781–1863), explorer and naturalist. From hook + thorn, after South African Dutch haakdoorn. Definition of hookthorn in US English: hookthornnounˈhʊkθɔːn South African Any of various trees or shrubs having hooked thorns, typically spaced in pairs along the branches, especially (a) (more fully "hookthorn acacia") a common tree of grassland and bushveld in southern Africa, Acacia caffra (family Fabaceae), with rough grey bark and a twisted trunk; (b) the blackthorn of southern Africa, Acacia mellifera subsp. detinens, a low-growing shrub or tree of dry lowlands with closely-spaced dark thorns.
Origin Early 19th century; earliest use found in William Burchell (1781–1863), explorer and naturalist. From hook + thorn, after South African Dutch haakdoorn. |