— thistlelike , adj.
/this"euhl/ , n.
1. any of various prickly, composite plants having showy, purple flower heads, esp. of the genera Cirsium, Carduus, or Onopordum.
2. any of various other prickly plants.
[ bef. 900; ME thistel, OE; c. D distel, G Distel, ON thistill ]