thistle:蓟(植物);一种叶片和花苞常带刺的野生植物,常见于草地、路旁;有时也用来象征坚韧(如苏格兰国花)。
/ˈθɪs.əl/
A thistle grew by the fence.
一株蓟长在篱笆旁。
The hills were dotted with thistle, and the sheep avoided the sharp leaves as they grazed.
山坡上点缀着蓟,羊群吃草时会避开那些带刺的叶子。
thistle 来自古英语 þistel,属于日耳曼语系词汇,原本就指这种“带刺的野草”。它在英语里长期保持同一核心含义,常与“刺、顽强、难以接近”等联想相关。