Hawthorn
/ˈhɔːˌθɔːrn/noun
A thorny shrub or small tree of the rose family, bearing white or pink flowers and red berries.
Did you know?Hawthorn was widely treated in European folklore as a protective hedge against witches and spirits, which is why it often appears in boundary magic and May Day customs.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
hagaþorn
“thorn tree or hedge thorn”
Old English
OE
hægþorn
“hawthorn, especially the thorny hedge plant”
Middle English
ME
hawthorn
“hawthorn tree or shrub”
Modern English
English
hawthorn
“a thorny shrub or small tree with white flowers and red berries”