Thorny \Thorn"y\, a. [Compar. {Thornier}; superl. {Thorniest}.] [Cf. AS. [thorn]orniht.] 1. Full of thorns or spines; rough with thorns; spiny; as, a thorny wood; a thorny tree; a thorny crown. [1913 Webster] 2. Like a thorn or thorns; hence, figuratively, troublesome; vexatious; harassing; perplexing. "The thorny point of bare distress." --Shak. [1913 Webster] The steep and thorny way to heaven. --Shak. [1913 Webster] {Thorny rest-harrow} (Bot.), rest-harrow. {Thorny trefoil}, a prickly plant of the genus {Fagonia} ({Fagonia Cretica}, etc.). [1913 Webster]