Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BURR-THISTLE, BUR-, -THRISTLE, Burrie-, Burry —, n. comb. The spear thistle, Carduus lanceolatus. Also fig. Gen.Sc. [′bʌr(ɪ̢) ′θɪsl, -′θrɪsl, -′θrɪ̢sl]Sc. 1829 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 235:
Kames was “gleg as ony wummle,” and . . . a real rough Bur-Thistle.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 249:
A heid like a burrie-thristle.Abd. 1906 J. Christie in Bnffsh. Jnl. (3 July) 3:
But they cud snod their burry thristles.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems II. 5:
The purple-tapt, bur-thristle there, Auld Scotland's fame supportit.Ayr. 1787 (publ. 1800) Burns Guidwife of Wauchope House (Cent. ed.) ii.:
The rough burr-thistle spreading wide Amang the bearded bear.
