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boxthorn

boxthorn

9.9
A thorny bush or climbing plant with bright flowers and berries
  • noun
  • /ˈbɑksˌθɔrn/
translation icon : espino
  • Many gardeners love planting boxthorns for their vibrant berries.

Examples

  • The vibrant flowers of the boxthorn attract many pollinators during spring.

  • The farmer planted a row of boxthorn along the edge of the field as a natural barrier.

  • Some species of boxthorn produce edible berries that are rich in nutrients.

  • The boxthorn blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Some species of boxthorn produce edible berries that are rich in nutrients.

  • The vibrant flowers of the boxthorn attract many pollinators during spring.

  • The farmer planted a row of boxthorn along the edge of the field as a natural barrier.

Synonyms

matrimony vine
vsboxthorn
9.5

A bush or climbing plant with bright berries you can eat and showy flowers

applies to such shrubs more generally not restricted to Eurasia
Lycium
vsboxthorn
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of mostly spiny bushes that includes goji berry plants

refers to particular shrubs within that genus rather than the whole genus

Surface Forms

boxthorn singular
boxthorns plural

Morphology

boxthorn = box + thorn (transparent) = box + thorn

The compound is directly formed from 'box' + 'thorn' and denotes a thorny shrub associated with or resembling boxwood, a straightforward plant-name compound.

Etymology

Boxthorn is made from box ('boxwood') and thorn ('a sharp point'), which gives a simple picture: a spiny plant with leaves like a box shrub. That's why a boxthorn today means a thorny shrub or vine with showy flowers and bright berries.