Easton's Bible Dictionary

(1.) Hebrews hoah (2 Kings 14:9; Job 31:40). In Job 41:2 the Hebrew word is rendered "thorn," but in the Revised Version "hook." It is also rendered "thorn" in 2 Chronicles 33:11; Proverbs 26:9; Cant. 2:2; "brambles" in Isaiah 34:13. It is supposed to be a variety of the wild plum-tree, but by some it is regarded as the common thistle, of which there are many varieties in Palestine.

(2.) Hebrews dardar, meaning "a plant growing luxuriantly" (Genesis 3:18; Hosea 10:8); Gr. tribolos, "a triple point" (Matthew 7:16; Hebrews 6:8, "brier, " R.V. "thistle"). This was probably the star-thistle, called by botanists Centaurea calcitropa, or "caltrops," a weed common in corn-fields. (see THORNS.) Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

(n.) Any one of several prickly composite plants, especially those of the genera Cnicus, Craduus, and Onopordon. The name is often also applied to other prickly plants.