bull-horn acacia

noun

: any of several hollow-thorned trees of the genus Acacia

especially : a large-thorned chiefly Central American tree (A. cornigera) the thorns of which are inhabited by ants

Word History

Etymology

so called from the shape of the thorns

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!