spear thistle
- noun
- /spɪr ˈθɪsəl/
:
cardo lanudo
- The spear thistle is often found growing along roadsides and in pastures.
Examples
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Its sharp spines make the spear thistle difficult to handle without gloves.
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Farmers consider the spear thistle a troublesome weed because of its rapid spread.
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The spear thistle is known for its sharp spines.
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Many gardeners dislike the spear thistle for its invasive nature.
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Farmers consider the spear thistle a troublesome weed because of its rapid spread.
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Its sharp spines make the spear thistle difficult to handle without gloves.
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The spear thistle is often found growing along roadsides and in pastures.
Synonyms
15
5.6
A wild plant with prickly leaves and purple flowers
A prickly plant that has large purple flower heads and grows wild as a weed
A tall prickly plant with large purple flower heads often found as a weed
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is a straightforward noun-noun combination: a thistle characterized by spear-like (sharp, jutting) features, so the overall meaning is directly derivable from 'spear' and 'thistle'. This compositional pattern is common and predictable cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily understand the term.
Etymology
The compound noun spear thistle comes from the plant's look: the thistle has long, sharp points that look like a spear, so the name gives a clear image of a sharp, spiny 'weed'.