a Germanic character of runic origin
"The ancient historian noted that the letter thorn was once used in Old English before being replaced by 'y' or 'z'."
A sharp protective spine of a plant.
"The thorn on the rose bush pierced my hand as I tried to pull off a bloom."
To pierce with, or as if with, a thorn
"The sharp branch caught my sleeve and tore through it before I could pull away."
A topographic surname, from Middle English for someone living near a thorn bush.
"The genealogist confirmed that Thorn was indeed a traditional topographic surname derived from families who lived beside a thorn bush in the medieval village."