Jerusalem thorn

noun

: a widely cultivated tropical American spiny shrub or small tree (Parkinsonia aculeata) of the legume family with pinnate leaves and showy racemose yellow flowers

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Jerusalem thorn was in 1866

Dictionary Entries Near Jerusalem thorn

Cite this Entry

“Jerusalem thorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Jerusalem%20thorn. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!