blessed thistle

noun

Centaurea benedicta (formerly usually called Cnicus benedictus), a thistle-like plant native to the Mediterranean.

Similar
milk thistlelady's thistleOur Lady's mild thistleholy thistleSilybum marianumsweet sultanCnicus benedictus
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Meanings

nounblessed thistle (usually uncountable, plural blessed thistles)

plural blessed thistles

  1. uncountableusuallyCentaurea benedicta (formerly usually called Cnicus benedictus), a thistle-like plant native to the Mediterranean.

Synonyms & antonyms

nountall Old World biennial thistle with large clasping white-blotched leaves and purple flower heads; naturalized in California and South America

Similar
milk thistlelady's thistleOur Lady's mild thistleholy thistleSilybum marianum
Broader
herbherbaceous plant

nounannual of Mediterranean to Portugal having hairy stems and minutely spiny-toothed leaves and large heads of yellow flowers

Similar
sweet sultanCnicus benedictus
Broader
thistle
Also see
milk thistle

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

It was once considered an antidote to venomous bites.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic شَوْك مُبَارَك
  • شَوْك مُبَارَك (šawk mubārak)Centaurea benedicta
Finnish karvaskaunokki
  • karvaskaunokkiCentaurea benedicta
German Benediktenkraut
  • BenediktenkrautCentaurea benedicta
Greek αγιάγκαθο
  • αγιάγκαθο (agiágkatho)Centaurea benedicta
Polish drapacz
  • drapaczCentaurea benedicta
Swedish kardbenedikt
  • kardbenediktCentaurea benedicta
Turkish şevketi bostan, mübarek dikeni
  • şevketi bostanCentaurea benedicta
  • mübarek dikeniCentaurea benedicta
  • şevketibostanCentaurea benedicta
  • mübarekdikeniCentaurea benedicta
Cite this entry
APA

blessed thistle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/blessed%20thistle

MLA

“blessed thistle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/blessed%20thistle. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “blessed thistle,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/blessed%20thistle.

Source: blessed thistle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.