thorn

A modified branch that is hard and sharp like a spike.

Any thorn-like structure on plants, such as the spine and the prickle.

(figurative) That which pricks or annoys; anything troublesome.

Any shrub or small tree that bears thorns, especially a hawthorn.

A letter of Latin script (capital: Þ, small: þ), borrowed from the futhark; today used only in Icelandic to represent the voiceless dental fricative, but originally used in several early Germanic scripts, including Old English where it represented the dental fricatives that are today written th (Old English did not have phonemic voicing distinctions for fricatives).

To pierce with, or as if with, a thorn (sharp pointed object).