Christ's-thorn

[ krahysts-thawrn ]

noun

1. any of certain Old World thorny shrubs or small trees supposed to have been used for Christ's crown of thorns, as the Jerusalem thorn, Paliurus spina-christi, or the jujube, Ziziphus jujuba.

Christ's-thorn

noun

1. any of several rhamnaceous plants of SW Asia, such as Paliurus spina-christi or the jujube, that have thorny stems and are popularly believed to have been used for Christ's Crown of Thorns

Word History and Origins

Origin of Christ's-thorn¹

1555–65; translation of Latin spīna Chrīstī

Example Sentences

Deciduous scrub, usually Christ's-thorn, or shiblijak, is also common in the lowlands, but it occurs much less frequently than maquis.

From Project Gutenberg