buckthorn

/ˈbʌk.θɔɹn/

UK: /ˈbʌk.θɔːn/

BɅK · θɔɹn (2 syllables)

English Noun

Definition

Any of several, often thorny shrubs or small trees, especially

Etymology

Calque of Latin cervī spīna (“deer's thorny shrub”), cervi (“deer's”) being the genitive singular of cervus (“deer”), from Proto-Italic *kerwos, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱr̥h₂wós, from *ḱerh₂- (“horn”) + *-wós, spīna (“thorny shrub”) from Proto-Italic *speinā, from Proto-Indo-European *spey- (“sharp point”). By surface analysis, buck + thorn.