Thorn \Thorn\, n. [AS. [thorn]orn; akin to OS. & OFries. thorn, D. doorn, G. dorn, Dan. torn, Sw. t["o]rne, Icel. [thorn]orn, Goth. [thorn]a['u]rnus; cf. Pol. tarn, Russ. tern' the blackthorn, ternie thorns, Skr. t[.r][.n]a grass, blade of grass. [root]53.]

1. A hard and sharp-pointed projection from a woody stem; usually, a branch so transformed; a spine. [1913 Webster]

2. (Bot.) Any shrub or small tree which bears thorns; especially, any species of the genus Crataegus, as the hawthorn, whitethorn, cockspur thorn. [1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: That which pricks or annoys as a thorn; anything troublesome; trouble; care. [1913 Webster]

There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. --2 Cor. xii. 7. [1913 Webster]

The guilt of empire, all its thorns and cares, Be only mine. --Southern. [1913 Webster]

4. The name of the Anglo-Saxon letter ?, capital form ?. It was used to represent both of the sounds of English th, as in thin, then. So called because it was the initial letter of thorn, a spine. [1913 Webster]

Thorn apple (Bot.), Jamestown weed.

Thorn broom (Bot.), a shrub that produces thorns.

Thorn hedge, a hedge of thorn-bearing trees or bushes.

Thorn devil. (Zool.) See Moloch, 2.

Thorn hopper (Zool.), a tree hopper (Thelia crataegi) which lives on the thorn bush, apple tree, and allied trees. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

Thorn \Thorn\, v. t. To prick, as with a thorn. [Poetic] [1913 Webster]

I am the only rose of all the stock That never thorn'd him. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

93 Moby Thesaurus words for "thorn": adherent, adhesive, affliction, annoyance, bane, barb, barnacle, bitter cup, bitter draft, bitter draught, bitter pill, bother, bramble, brier, bristle, bugbear, bulldog, burden, burden of care, burr, cactus, calamity, cankerworm of care, care, catchweed, cement, cleavers, cross, crown of thorns, crushing burden, curse, death, decal, decalcomania, destruction, disease, distress, encumbrance, evil, gall, gall and wormwood, glue, goose grass, grievance, gunk, harm, infliction, irritant, irritation, leech, limpet, load, molasses, mucilage, needle, nemesis, nettle, nuisance, open wound, oppression, pack of troubles, paste, peck of troubles, pest, pestilence, pine needle, plague, plaster, point, prickle, quill, remora, running sore, scourge, sea of troubles, sorrow, spicule, spiculum, spike, spikelet, spine, sticker, syrup, thistle, torment, torture, trouble, vexation, visitation, waters of bitterness, weight, woe, yucca

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

thorn

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Thorn \Thorn\, n. [AS. [thorn]orn; akin to OS. & OFries. thorn, D. doorn, G. dorn, Dan. torn, Sw. t["o]rne, Icel. [thorn]orn, Goth. [thorn]a['u]rnus; cf. Pol. tarn, Russ. tern' the blackthorn, ternie thorns, Skr. t[.r][.n]a grass, blade of grass. [root]53.]

1. A hard and sharp-pointed projection from a woody stem; usually, a branch so transformed; a spine.

2. (Bot.) Any shrub or small tree which bears thorns; especially, any species of the genus Crat[ae]gus, as the hawthorn, whitethorn, cockspur thorn.

3. Fig.: That which pricks or annoys as a thorn; anything troublesome; trouble; care.

There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me. --2 Cor. xii. 7.

The guilt of empire, all its thorns and cares, Be only mine. --Southern.

4. The name of the Anglo-Saxon letter ?, capital form ?. It was used to represent both of the sounds of English th, as in thin, then. So called because it was the initial letter of thorn, a spine.

Thorn apple (Bot.), Jamestown weed.

Thorn broom (Bot.), a shrub that produces thorns.

Thorn hedge, a hedge of thorn-bearing trees or bushes.

Thorn devil. (Zo["o]l.) See Moloch, 2.

Thorn hopper (Zo["o]l.), a tree hopper (Thelia crat[ae]gi) which lives on the thorn bush, apple tree, and allied trees.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Thorn \Thorn\, v. t. To prick, as with a thorn. [Poetic]

I am the only rose of all the stock That never thorn'd him. --Tennyson.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)