globe thistle

globe thistle
    n 1: any of various plants of the genus Echinops having prickly
         leaves and dense globose heads of bluish flowers
    

Globe \Globe\ (gl[=o]b), n. [L. globus, perh. akin to L. glomus
   a ball of yarn, and E. clump, golf: cf. F. globe.]
   1. A round or spherical body, solid or hollow; a body whose
      surface is in every part equidistant from the center; a
      ball; a sphere.
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   2. Anything which is nearly spherical or globular in shape;
      as, the globe of the eye; the globe of a lamp.
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   3. The earth; the terraqueous ball; -- usually preceded by
      the definite article. --Locke.
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   4. A round model of the world; a spherical representation of
      the earth or heavens; as, a terrestrial or celestial
      globe; -- called also {artificial globe}.
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   5. A body of troops, or of men or animals, drawn up in a
      circle; -- a military formation used by the Romans,
      answering to the modern infantry square.
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            Him round
            A globe of fiery seraphim inclosed.   --Milton.
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   {Globe amaranth} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Gomphrena}
      ({G. globosa}), bearing round heads of variously colored
      flowers, which long retain color when gathered.

   {Globe animalcule}, a small, globular, locomotive organism
      ({Volvox globator}), once throught to be an animal,
      afterward supposed to be a colony of microscopic alg[ae].
      

   {Globe of compression} (Mil.), a kind of mine producing a
      wide crater; -- called also {overcharged mine}.

   {Globe daisy} (Bot.), a plant or flower of the genus
      {Globularing}, common in Europe. The flowers are minute
      and form globular heads.

   {Globe sight}, a form of front sight placed on target rifles.
      

   {Globe slater} (Zool.), an isopod crustacean of the genus
      {Spheroma}.

   {Globe thistle} (Bot.), a thistlelike plant with the flowers
      in large globular heads ({Cynara Scolymus}); also, certain
      species of the related genus {Echinops}.

   {Globe valve}.
      (a) A ball valve.
      (b) A valve inclosed in a globular chamber. --Knight.
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   Syn: {Globe}, {Sphere}, {Orb}, {Ball}.

   Usage: Globe denotes a round, and usually a solid body;
          sphere is the term applied in astronomy to such a
          body, or to the concentric spheres or orbs of the old
          astronomers; orb is used, especially in poetry, for
          globe or sphere, and also for the pathway of a
          heavenly body; ball is applied to the heavenly bodies
          concieved of as impelled through space.
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Thistle \This"tle\, n. [OE. thistil, AS. [thorn]istel; akin to
   D. & G. distel, OHG. distila, distil, Icel. [thorn]istill,
   Sw. tistel, Dan. tidsel; of uncertain origin.] (Bot.)
   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.
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   {Blessed thistle}, {Carduus benedictus}, so named because it
      was formerly considered an antidote to the bite of
      venomous creatures.

   {Bull thistle}, {Cnicus lanceolatus}, the common large
      thistle of neglected pastures.

   {Canada thistle}, {Cnicus arvensis}, a native of Europe, but
      introduced into the United States from Canada.

   {Cotton thistle}, {Onopordon Acanthium}.

   {Fuller's thistle}, the teasel.

   {Globe thistle}, {Melon thistle}, etc. See under {Globe},
      {Melon}, etc.

   {Pine thistle}, {Atractylis gummifera}, a native of the
      Mediterranean region. A vicid gum resin flows from the
      involucre.

   {Scotch thistle}, either the cotton thistle, or the musk
      thistle, or the spear thistle; -- all used national
      emblems of Scotland.

   {Sow thistle}, {Sonchus oleraceus}.

   {Spear thistle}. Same as {Bull thistle}.

   {Star thistle}, a species of {Centaurea}. See {Centaurea}.

   {Torch thistle}, a candelabra-shaped plant of the genus
      Cereus. See {Cereus}.

   {Yellow thistle}, {Cincus horridulus}.
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   {Thistle bird} (Zool.), the American goldfinch, or
      yellow-bird ({Spinus tristis}); -- so called on account of
      its feeding on the seeds of thistles. See Illust. under
      {Goldfinch}.

   {Thistle butterfly} (Zool.), a handsomely colored American
      butterfly ({Vanessa cardui}) whose larva feeds upon
      thistles; -- called also {painted lady}.

   {Thistle cock} (Zool.), the corn bunting ({Emberiza
      militaria}). [Prov. Eng.]

   {Thistle crown}, a gold coin of England of the reign of James
      I., worth four shillings.

   {Thistle finch} (Zool.), the goldfinch; -- so called from its
      fondness for thistle seeds. [Prov. Eng.]

   {Thistle funnel}, a funnel having a bulging body and flaring
      mouth.
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