thorn

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English thorn, þorn, from Old English þorn, from Proto-West Germanic *þorn, from Proto-Germanic *þurnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *tr̥nós, from *(s)ter- (“stiff”). === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /θɔːn/ (US) IPA(key): /θoɹn/, [θo̞ɹn] Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)n (without the horse–hoarse merger) (rhotic) IPA(key): /θɔːɹn/ (non-rhotic) IPA(key): /θɔːn/ === Noun === thorn (plural thorns) (botany) A modified branch that is hard and sharp like a spike. Any thorn-like structure on plants, such as the spine and the prickle. Any shrub or small tree that bears thorns, especially a hawthorn. (figurative) That which pricks or annoys; anything troublesome. A letter of Latin script (capital: Þ, small: þ), borrowed from the futhark; today used only in Icelandic to represent the voiceless dental fricative, but originally used in several early Germanic scripts, including Old English where it represented the dental fricatives that are today written th (Old English did not have phonemic voicing distinctions for fricatives). See also Etymology of ye (definite article). ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === thorn (third-person singular simple present thorns, present participle thorning, simple past and past participle thorned) To pierce with, or as if with, a thorn (sharp pointed object). ==== Translations ==== === See also === eth, edh, eð, ð wynn, wen, ƿ ᚦ === Further reading === thorn on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Thorns, spines, and prickles on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Thorn (letter) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === North, Rt Hon, Rt. Hon., north == Middle English == === Alternative forms === thorne, thron, thurne, þorn, þorne, þron === Etymology === Inherited from Old English þorn, from Proto-West Germanic *þorn, from Proto-Germanic *þurnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *tr̥nós. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /θɔrn/, /θoːrn/, /θrɔn/ === Noun === thorn (plural thornes) A thorn (spine on a plant with a sharp point) Thorn or eth (the letter þ and/or ð) A plant having thorns, especially the hawthorn or rosebush. (rare) Thorns pulled from the ground for burning. (rare) A dish incorporating hawthorn. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== English: thorn Scots: thorn; torn (Shetland) Yola: thoornes, thorns, thurns ==== References ==== “thorn, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 12 September 2018. == Old Dutch == === Etymology === From Proto-West Germanic *þurnu, *þorn from Proto-Germanic *þurnuz, *þurnaz. === Noun === thorn m thorn, spine of a plant ==== Inflection ==== ==== Descendants ==== Middle Dutch: dorn, dōorn, dōrenDutch: doren, doornAfrikaans: doringNegerhollands: dorn, doorn === References === “thorn”, in Oudnederlands Woordenboek, 2012 == Old Saxon == === Etymology === From Proto-West Germanic *þornu (“thorn, sloe”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /θɔrn/ === Noun === thorn m thorn; thorny bush ==== Declension ==== ==== Descendants ==== Middle Low German: dōrn German Low German: Däörn, Doorn, Dorn, Durn