Defn: A metallic element found in certain rare minerals, as thorite, pyrochlore, monazite, etc., and isolated as an infusible gray metallic powder which burns in the air and forms thoria; — formerly called also thorinum. Symbol Th. Atomic weight 232.0.
THORN Thorn, n. Etym: [AS. þorn; akin to OS. & OFries. thorn, D. doorn, G. dorn, Dan. torn, Sw. törne, Icel. þorn, Goth. þaúrnus; cf. Pol. tarn, Russ. tern' the blackthorn, ternie thorns, Skr. trsnsa grass, blade of grass. *53.]
1. A hard and sharp-pointed projection from a woody stem; usually, a branch so transformed; a spine.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Any shrub or small tree which bears thorns; especially, any species of the genus Cratægus, 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 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. (Zoöl.) See Moloch, 2.
— Thorn hopper (Zoöl.), a tree hopper (Thelia cratægi) which lives
on the thorn bush, apple tree, and allied trees.
THORN
Thorn, v. t.
Defn: To prick, as with a thorn. [Poetic]
I am the only rose of all the stock That never thorn'd him. Tennyson.
THORNBACK
Thorn"back`, n.