What does THORN mean?

Thorn

1. Parts of Speech: Noun

2. Definitions:

• a stiff, sharp-pointed woody projection from a stem or branch of a plant, typically one that is capable of causing injury.
• the letter þ, used in Old and Middle English to represent the voiceless dental fricative sound (as in thing or both) and in Icelandic and some phonetic alphabets to represent the same sound.

3. Pronunciations:

• US: /θɔrn/
• UK: /θɔːn/

4. Origin and Usage:

The word "thorn" originated from Old English "thorn" which means "a thorn or a prickle." It has been used since the 12th century to describe the sharp projection from a plant stem or branch. In Middle English, the letter "þ" was used to represent the "th" sound, and it was called "thorn." The letter was eventually replaced by "th" in modern English, but it is still used in Icelandic and some phonetic alphabets.

5. Synonyms:

• spine
• prickle
• barb
• thistle

6. Related Words:

• spike
• sharp
• blade
• sting
• bract

7. Example Sentences:

• The thorn on the rose bush pricked her finger.
• The Old English letter "þ" is also known as thorn.