Word Study
buckthorn
CIDE DICTIONARY
buckthorn, n.
A genus (Rhamnus ) of shrubs or trees. The shorter branches of some species terminate in long spines or thorns. See Rhamnus. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
buckthorn, n. any thorny shrub of the genus Rhamnus, esp. R. cathartica with berries formerly used as a cathartic.
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