n.
Pronunciation: ' thi-s ə l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English thistel, from Old English; akin to Old High German distill thistle
Date: before 12th century
: any of various prickly composite plants (esp. genera Carduus, Cirsium, and Onopordum ) with often showy heads of mostly tubular flowers also : any of various other prickly plants
– this · tly \ ' thi-s( ə -)l ē \ adjective
thistle