a. Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 1 ð-, þyrnen, 2 þernen; 2–4 þornen, 4 (9 dial.) thornen, 9 dial. tharnin. [In OE. þyrnen OHG. durnîn, Goth. þaurneins, :—OTeut. *þurnînoz, f. *þurn-us THORN: see -EN suffix4. ME. þornen (without umlaut) was assimilated to the sb.; so Ger. dornen.] Of thorns or thorn; thorny.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxxvi. 260. He ʓeðafode ðæt him mon sette ðyrnenne beaʓ on ðæt heafod.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 252. His cempan … mid þyrnenum helme his heafod befengon.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., Mark xv. 17. Þa cempen … him on setten þernene helm awundene.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 121. Mid þornene crune his heaued wes icruned.
c. 1400. Trevisa’s Higden (Rolls), VI. 427. He feng a party of þe holy crosse, and som of þe crowne of þorne [MSS. α, γ, þornene crowne; β, þornen coroun].
1859. Hughes, Scour. Wh. Horse, iv. The tharnin tree … As is called King Alferd’s tharn.
1863. Barnes, Poems, III. 29. I pass’d the maid avore the spring, An’ shepherd by the thornen tree.
