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Definition of firethorn

firethorn

/ˈfaɪ.ɚˌθɔːrn/
fire · thorn
Plural:firethorns
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firethorn Lexical Profile

firethorn Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of several thorny evergreen shrubs of the genus Pyracantha in the rose family (Rosaceae), native to southern Europe and Asia and widely cultivated as ornamental hedges for their dense clusters of small, fragrant white five-petaled flowers in spring and brilliant red, orange, or yellow berry-like pomes in autumn.

Example

"The garden wall was covered with a dense firethorn that burst into clusters of small white blossoms every May before producing bright scarlet berries in the fall."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for firethorn

• Nearby Words

fireside
firestarter
firestorm
firethorn
firetower
firetrap
firetruck

Word Origin & Etymology

A calque of the scientific genus name Pyracantha, derived from Ancient Greek pyr ("fire") and akantha ("thorn"), referring to the shrub's bright red-orange berries and spiny branches.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Firethorn. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/firethorn
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