hawthorn
hawthorn Lexical Profile
hawthorn Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of various thorny shrubs or small trees of the genus Crataegus in the rose family (Rosaceae), native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and cultivated for their dense clusters of fragrant white, pink, or red five-petaled blossoms in spring.
"The country lane was lined with blooming hawthorn that filled the spring air with a sweet scent."
The small, round, red or dark-colored berry-like pome fruit (also called a haw) produced by a shrub or tree of the genus Crataegus, which is edible and used to make jellies, wines, candies, and herbal preparations.
"In autumn, the birds feast on ripe hawthorn while foragers gather the tart red berries to make jelly."
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Old English 'haguthorn', a compound of 'hagu' (meaning hedge or enclosure) and 'thorn' (meaning thorn or prickly bush), referring to the plant's traditional use as a living boundary hedge.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.