Thorn"bill` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of small,
brilliantly colored American birds of the genus Rhamphomicron. They
have a long, slender, sharp bill, and feed upon honey, insects, and the
juice of the sugar cane.
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Thorn"bird` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A small South American bird (Anumbius
anumbii) allied to the ovenbirds of the genus Furnarius). It builds a
very large and complex nest of twigs and thorns in a bush or tree.
Thorn"but (?), n. [Thorn + -but as in halibut; cf. G. dornbutt.]
(Zoöl.) The turbot.
Thorn"-head`ed (?), a. Having a head armed with thorns or spines.
Thorn-headed worm (Zoöl.), any worm of the order Acanthocephala; —
called also thornhead.
Thorn"less, a. Destitute of, or free from, thorns.
Thorn"set` (?), a. Set with thorns. Dyer.
Thorn"tail` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A beautiful South American humming bird
(Gouldia Popelairii), having the six outer tail feathers long, slender,
and pointed. The head is ornamented with a long, pointed crest.
Thorn"y (?), a. [Compar. Thornier (?); superl. Thorniest.] [Cf. AS.
þorniht.] 1. Full of thorns or spines; rough with thorns; spiny; as, a
thorny wood; a thorny tree; a thorny crown.
2. Like a thorn or thorns; hence, figuratively, troublesome; vexatious;
harassing; perplexing. "The thorny point of bare distress." Shak.
The steep and thorny way to heaven.
Shak.
Thorny rest-harrow (Bot.), rest- harrow. — Thorny trefoil, a prickly
plant of the genus Fagonia (F. Cretica, etc.).