firethorn

noun

fire·​thorn ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌthȯrn How to pronounce firethorn (audio)
: pyracantha
especially : a European semievergreen shrub (P. coccinea) with orange-red berries

Examples of firethorn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Orchard Hills’ zone is filled with prickly pear cacti, Japanese honeysuckle and Formosa firethorn. Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firethorn was circa 1834

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Cite this Entry

“Firethorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firethorn. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

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