ἄκανθα

A. thorn, prickle, Arist. PA 655a19, Thphr. HP 6.1.3: hence,

1. any thorny or prickly plant (in Od. 5.328 (pl.) prob. Eryngium campestre), S. Fr. 718, Eub. 107.19, Theoc. 1.132, etc.: prov., οὐ γὰρ ἄκανθαι no thistles, i.e. 'an easy job', Ar. Fr. 272,483:—special kinds: ἄ. Ἀραβική smaller milk-thistle, Notobasis syriaca, Dsc. 3.13; ἄ. βασιλική fish-thistle, Cnicus Acarna, Thphr. CP 1.10.5; ἄ. Ἰνδική, = Balsamodendron Mukul, Id. HP 9.1.2; ἄ. λευκή Acacia albida, ib.4.2.8; = ἄ. βασιλική, Dsc. 3.12; ἄ. λευκὴ τρίοζος, = Euphorbia antiquorum, Thphr. HP 4.4.12; ἄ. ἀκανώδης (prob.) cornthistle, Carduus arvensis, ib.10.6.

2. of other plants, e.g. Spanish broom, Spartium junceum, Str. 3.5.10:— = ἀκακία, ἄ. Αἰγυπτία, Thphr. HP 9.1.2. cf. POxy. 1188.10 (13 A. D.), etc.; ἄ. μέλαινα Acacia arabica, Thphr. HP 4.2.8, cf. Hdt. 2.96, Thd. Is. 41.19; ἄ. δψάς, = Acacia tortilis, Thphr. HP 4.7.1.

3. centralflowering-bud of χαμαιλέων λευκός, ib.9.12.1, Dsc. 3.8.

4. = ἄκανθος, Ps.-Dsc. 3.17.

5. in pl., prickles or spines of the hedgehog and of certain fish, Ion Trag.38, Arist. HA 530b8.

6. backbone or spine of fish, A. Fr. 275, Ar. V. 969, Alex. 110.11,al.; of serpents, Hdt. 2.75, Theoc. 24.32, A.R. 4.150; of men, Hdt. 4.72, Hp. Art. 14, E. El. 492, Arist. PA 654a26, Gal. 2.451, etc.; improperly used of mammalia, acc. to Arist. AP 0.98a22; of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, Gal. 2.758; χονδρώδεις ἄ. false ribs, Ruf. Oss. 25.

7. metaph. in pl., thorny questions, Luc. Hes. 5, Ath. 3.97d.