sow thistle

[ sou ]

noun

1. any composite plant belonging to the genus Sonchus, especially S. oleraceus, a weed having thistlelike leaves, yellow flowers, and a milky juice.

sow thistle

/ saʊ /

noun

1. any of various plants of the Old World genus Sonchus, esp S. oleraceus, having milky juice, prickly leaves, and heads of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae (composites) Also calledmilk thistleNZpuhaNZrauriki

Word History and Origins

Origin of sow thistle¹

1200–50; Middle English sowethistel, earlier sugethistel. See sow ², thistle

Word History and Origins

Origin of sow thistle¹

C13: from sugethistel, perhaps variant of Old English thugethistel, thuthistel thowthistle, a dialect name of the sow thistle. See sow ², thistle

Example Sentences

"I think she clearly is a keen botanist because pressed in a number of the pages are wild flowers," says Fiona, listing kidney vetch, cranesbill, louse wort and sow thistle, among others.

From BBC

Boiling water or full-strength white vinegar can kill the leaves and stems of most tender green weeds, such as spotted spurge, crab grass, sow thistle and prickly lettuce — especially when they’re young.

From Los Angeles Times

He muttered something about Hazel being too embleer clever by half, cuffed Hawkbit off a sow thistle he was nibbling and led his five rabbits over the bank into the field.

From Literature

At that stage, it does resemble other weeds like prickly lettuce, Canadian sow thistle and dandelions themselves.

From Washington Times

During a stroll in the summer garden, you notice that the sow thistle petals are open while the adjacent pumpkin blossoms remain shut.

From New York Times