[ 'kα:lɪn , -lʌɪn ]
■ noun a spiny plant with long-lived flower heads bearing shiny straw-coloured bracts. [ Carlina vulgaris and related species.]
Origin
C16: from Fr., from med. L. carlina , perh. an alt. of cardina (from L. carduus 'thistle') by assoc. with Carolus Magnus , i.e. Charlemagne.