Thorn

n.	1.	A hard and sharp-pointed projection from a woody stem; usually, a branch so transformed; a spine.
	2.	(Bot.) Any shrub or small tree which bears thorns; especially, any species of the genus Cratægus, as the hawthorn, whitethorn, cockspur thorn.
	3.	Fig.: That which pricks or annoys as a thorn; anything troublesome; trouble; care. There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. - 2 Cor. xii. 7. The guilt of empire, all its thorns and cares, Be only mine. - Southern.
	4.	The name of the Anglo-Saxon letter , capital form . It was used to represent both of the sounds of English th, as in thin, then. So called because it was the initial letter of thorn, a spine. Thorn apple (Bot.) Jamestown weed. Thorn broom (Bot.) a shrub that produces thorns. Thorn hedge a hedge of thorn-bearing trees or bushes. Thorn devil (Zool.) See Moloch, 2. Thorn hopper (Zool.) a tree hopper (Thelia cratægi) which lives on the thorn bush, apple tree, and allied trees.
v. t.	1.	To prick, as with a thorn. I am the only rose of all the stock That never thorn'd him. - Tennyson.

Noun	1.	thorn - something that causes irritation and annoyance; "he's a thorn in my flesh" Synonyms: irritant
	2.	thorn - a sharp-pointed tip on a stem or leaf Synonyms: pricker, prickle, sticker, spine
	3.	thorn - a Germanic character of runic origin

adherent, adhesive, affliction, annoyance, bane, barnacle, bitter cup, bitter draft, bitter draught, bitter pill, bother, bramble, brier, bristle, bugbear, bulldog, burden, burden of care, burr, cactus, calamity, cankerworm of care, care, catchweed, cement, cleavers, cross, crown of thorns, crushing burden, curse, death, decal, decalcomania, destruction, disease, distress, encumbrance, evil, gall, gall and wormwood, glue, goose grass, grievance, gunk, harm, infliction, irritant, irritation, leech, limpet, load, molasses, mucilage, needle, nemesis, nuisance, open wound, oppression, pack of troubles, paste, peck of troubles, pest, pestilence, pine needle, plague, plaster, point, quill, remora, running sore, scourge, sea of troubles, sorrow, spicule, spiculum, spike, spikelet, sticker, syrup, thistle, torment, torture, trouble, vexation, visitation, waters of bitterness, weight, woe, yucca

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