buckthorn

B3U1C3K5T1H4O1R1N1
UK/ˈbʌk.θɔːn/US/ˈbʌk.θɔɹn/

noun

especially genus Rhamnus,

Similar
English plantainnarrow-leaved plantainribgrassribwortripple-grassPlantago lanceolata
OriginLatin cervī spīna →
UncommonScrabble 20
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Meanings

nounbuckthorn (plural buckthorns)

plural buckthorns

  1. Any of several, often thorny shrubs or small trees, especially
    1. especially genus Rhamnus,
    2. especially common buckthorn or purging buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica).
    3. also alder buckthorn (Frangula), especially Frangula alnus).
    4. sea buckthorn (Hippophae, in family Elaeagnaceae).

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan Old World plantain with long narrow ribbed leaves widely established in temperate regions

Similar
English plantainnarrow-leaved plantainribgrassribwortripple-grassPlantago lanceolata
Broader
plantain
Also see
english plantainribgrassribwort

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latincervī spīna“deer's thorny shrub”
  2. Englishbuckthorn

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.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic سِدْر
  • سِدْر (sidr)plant of the genus Rhamnus
Basque hesilahar
  • hesilaharRhamnus cathartica
Catalan espina vera
  • espina veraRhamnus cathartica
Esperanto ramno
  • ramnoplant of the genus Rhamnus
Estonian türnpuu, harilik türnpuu
  • türnpuuplant of the genus Rhamnus
  • harilik türnpuuRhamnus cathartica
Finnish paatsama, orapaatsama
  • paatsamaplant of the genus Rhamnus
  • orapaatsamaRhamnus cathartica
French nerprun, nerprun purgatif
  • nerprunplant of the genus Rhamnus
  • nerprun purgatifRhamnus cathartica
German Kreuzdorn, Purgier-Kreuzdorn
  • Kreuzdornplant of the genus Rhamnus
  • Purgier-KreuzdornRhamnus cathartica
Greek λευκαγκαθιά
  • λευκαγκαθιά (lefkagkathiá)plant of the genus Rhamnus
Irish paide bréan
  • paide bréanRhamnus cathartica
Latin cervī spīna, calabrīx
  • cervī spīnaplant of the genus Rhamnus
  • calabrīxplant of the genus Rhamnus
Persian ارجنک, اشنگور
  • ارجنک (arjanak)plant of the genus Rhamnus
  • اشنگور (ašangur)Rhamnus cathartica
  • کلیکک (kalikak)Rhamnus cathartica
Polish szakłak
  • szakłakplant of the genus Rhamnus
Portuguese aderno, alaterno
  • adernoplant of the genus Rhamnus
  • alaternoplant of the genus Rhamnus
Romanian verigar, verigar
  • verigarplant of the genus Rhamnus
  • verigarRhamnus cathartica
Russian круши́на
  • круши́на (krušína)plant of the genus Rhamnus
Spanish espino cerval
  • espino cervalRhamnus cathartica
Swedish getapel, getapel
  • getapelplant of the genus Rhamnus
  • getapelRhamnus cathartica
  • vägtornRhamnus cathartica
Welsh rhafnwydden, rhafnwydd
  • rhafnwyddenplant of the genus Rhamnus
  • rhafnwyddRhamnus cathartica
Cite this entry
APA

buckthorn. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/buckthorn

MLA

“buckthorn.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/buckthorn. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “buckthorn,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/buckthorn.

Source: buckthorn on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.