acanthus

Meaning

Noun

• A member of the genus Acanthus of herbaceous prickly plants with toothed leaves, (family Acanthaceae, order Lamiales (formerly Scrophulariales (order))) found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India.
• An ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of Acanthus spinosus (species), used in the capitals of the Corinthian and composite orders.

Origin

• From Latin acanthus, from Ancient Greek ἄκανθος, from ἀκή + ἄνθος.