— hawthorny , adj.
/haw"thawrn'/ , n.
any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Crataegus, of the rose family, typically a small tree with stiff thorns, certain North American species of which have white or pink blossoms and bright-colored fruits and are cultivated in hedges.
[ bef. 900; ME; OE haguthorn, c. MD hagedorn, MHG hagendorn, ON hagthorn. See HAW 3 , THORN ]