Thorn facts for kids

The word Thorn has many different meanings! It can refer to sharp parts of plants, a special letter from old alphabets, places around the world, and even characters in books or bands. Let's explore some of the most common uses of this interesting word.

Thorns in Nature

When you hear "thorn," you might first think of plants. Many plants have sharp, pointy parts that help protect them from animals.

• Thorns, spines, and prickles: These are all sharp growths on plants. They are like the plant's natural armor!
• Thorn tree: This is a general name for any tree that has thorns.
• Hawthorn: This is a specific type of tree or shrub, known for its small, sharp thorns and often pretty flowers and berries. Its scientific name is Crataegus.

The Letter Thorn

• Thorn (letter): This is a very old letter from the alphabet! It looks like Þ (uppercase) or þ (lowercase). It was used in old English (Anglo-Saxon) and is still used today in the Icelandic alphabet. It makes a "th" sound, like in the word "think."

Places Called Thorn

Many towns and cities around the world are named Thorn.

• Thorn, Netherlands: A beautiful village in the Netherlands, famous for its white houses.
• Toruń, Poland: This city in Poland was once known as Thorn when it was part of Germany.

Thorn in the United Kingdom

Several small places in the UK are called Thorn:

• Thorn, Bedfordshire
• Thorn, Devon
• Thorn, Herefordshire
• Thorn, Powys

Thorn in the USA

You can also find places named Thorn in the United States:

• Thorn, California: Located in San Bernardino County.
• Thorn, Mississippi: Found in Chickasaw County.
• Thorn, Utah: A place in Salt Lake County.

People and Characters Named Thorn

Many people, both real and fictional, share the name Thorn.

• Brad Thorn: A famous rugby player from Australia and New Zealand. He played both rugby league and rugby union.
• Gaston Thorn: A politician from Luxembourg who was born in 1928. He held important leadership roles.
• Tracey Thorn: A well-known singer and musician.
• Rose and Thorn: A character from DC Comics who has a split personality.
• Thorn Harvestar: A main character in Jeff Smith's popular comic series, Bone.
• Thorn: A red dragon and an important character in the Inheritance Trilogy fantasy books, appearing on the cover of the book Eldest.

Companies and Groups

Some companies and groups also use "Thorn" in their names.

• Thorn EMI: A large British company that used to be involved in music, electronics, and rentals.
• Thorn Cycles: A British company that makes bicycles.
• Thorn Lighting: A company that makes lights and lighting systems.

Other Uses of Thorn

The word "Thorn" also appears in titles of books, games, and even names of animals.

• Thorns: A science fiction novel written by American author Robert Silverberg in 1967.
• Thorn (horse): A racehorse that won a big race called the Kentucky Futurity in 1897.
• Thorn: The title of a video game.
• Thorns (band): A black metal band from Norway.
• The Thorns: An American acoustic rock band.