Carline thistle \Car"line this`tle\ [F. carline, It., Sp., & Pg., carlina. Said to be so called from the Emperor Charlemagne, whose army is reputed to have used it as a remedy for pestilence.]

(Bot.) A prickly plant of the genus Carlina (C. vulgaris), found in Europe and Asia.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)