3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Thistle  \This"tle\,  n.  [OE.  thistil  AS  [thorn]istel;  akin  to 
  D.  &  G.  distel,  OHG.  distila,  distil,  Icel.  [thorn]istill, 
  Sw  tistel,  Dan.  tidsel;  of  uncertain  origin.]  (Bot.) 
  Any  one  of  several  prickly  composite  plants,  especially  those 
  of  the  genera  {Cnicus},  {Craduus},  and  {Onopordon}.  The  name 
  is  often  also  applied  to  other  prickly  plants. 
 
  {Blessed  thistle},  {Carduus  benedictus},  so  named  because  it 
  was  formerly  considered  an  antidote  to  the  bite  of 
  venomous  creatures. 
 
  {Bull  thistle},  {Cnicus  lanceolatus},  the  common  large 
  thistle  of  neglected  pastures. 
 
  {Canada  thistle},  {Cnicus  arvensis},  a  native  of  Europe,  but 
  introduced  into  the  United  States  from  Canada. 
 
  {Cotton  thistle},  {Onopordon  Acanthium}. 
 
  {Fuller's  thistle},  the  teasel. 
 
  {Globe  thistle},  {Melon  thistle},  etc  See  under  {Globe}, 
  {Melon},  etc 
 
  {Pine  thistle},  {Atractylis  gummifera},  a  native  of  the 
  Mediterranean  region.  A  vicid  gum  resin  flows  from  the 
  involucre. 
 
  {Scotch  thistle},  either  the  cotton  thistle,  or  the  musk 
  thistle,  or  the  spear  thistle;  --  all  used  national 
  emblems  of  Scotland. 
 
  {Sow  thistle},  {Sonchus  oleraceus}. 
 
  {Spear  thistle}.  Same  as  {Bull  thistle}. 
 
  {Star  thistle},  a  species  of  {Centaurea}.  See  {Centaurea}. 
 
  {Torch  thistle},  a  candelabra-shaped  plant  of  the  genus 
  Cereus.  See  {Cereus}. 
 
  {Yellow  thistle},  {Cincus  horridulus}. 
 
  {Thistle  bird}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  American  goldfinch,  or 
  yellow-bird  ({Spinus  tristis});  --  so  called  on  account  of 
  its  feeding  on  the  seeds  of  thistles.  See  Illust.  under 
  {Goldfinch}. 
 
  {Thistle  butterfly}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  handsomely  colored  American 
  butterfly  ({Vanessa  cardui})  whose  larva  feeds  upon 
  thistles;  --  called  also  {painted  lady}. 
 
  {Thistle  cock}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  corn  bunting  ({Emberiza 
  militaria}).  [Prov.  Eng.] 
 
  {Thistle  crown},  a  gold  coin  of  England  of  the  reign  of  James 
  I.,  worth  four  shillings. 
 
  {Thistle  finch}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  goldfinch;  --  so  called  from 
  its  fondness  for  thistle  seeds.  [Prov.  Eng.] 
 
  {Thistle  funnel},  a  funnel  having  a  bulging  body  and  flaring 
  mouth. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  thistle 
  n  :  any  of  numerous  plants  of  the  family  Compositae  and 
  especially  of  the  genera  Carduus  and  Cirsium  and 
  Onopordum  having  prickly-edged  leaves 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Thistle 
  (1.)  Heb.  hoah  (2  Kings  14:9;  Job  31:40).  In  Job  41:2  the  Hebrew 
  word  is  rendered  "thorn,"  but  in  the  Revised  Version  "hook."  It 
  is  also  rendered  thorn"  in  2  Chr.  33:11;  Prov.  26:9;  Cant.  2:2; 
  brambles"  in  Isa.  34:13.  It  is  supposed  to  be  a  variety  of  the 
  wild  plum-tree,  but  by  some  it  is  regarded  as  the  common 
  thistle,  of  which  there  are  many  varieties  in  Palestine. 
 
  (2.)  Heb.  dardar,  meaning  "a  plant  growing  luxuriantly"  (Gen. 
  3:18;  Hos.  10:8);  Gr  tribolos  "a  triple  point"  (Matt.  7:16; 
  Heb.  6:8,  "brier,"  R.V.  "thistle").  This  was  probably  the 
  star-thistle,  called  by  botanists  Centaurea  calcitropa  or 
  "caltrops,"  a  weed  common  in  corn-fields.  (See  {THORNS}.) 
 

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