acanthus

noun acan·thus \ə-ˈkan(t)-thəs\

plural acanthus

Definition of ACANTHUS

: any of a genus (Acanthus of the family Acanthaceae, the acanthus family) of prickly perennial herbs chiefly of the Mediterranean region

: an ornamentation (as in a Corinthian capital) representing or suggesting the leaves of the acanthus

New Latin, genus name, from Greek akanthos, an acanthus, from akantha thorn

First Known Use: 1551

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