devil's walking stick
Definition
- Noun:
- A small, deciduous, clump-forming tree or shrub native to the eastern United States. It is known for its very sharp, stiff spines that cover its stems and branches.
Usage
- Noun:
- The dense thicket was nearly impassable due to the presence of the devil's walking stick.
- Despite its formidable spines, the devil's walking stick produces attractive clusters of white flowers in summer.
Advanced Usage
- The name "devil's walking stick" is a vivid folk name that directly references the plant's most notable characteristic: its stems are covered in sharp, painful spines, as if fit for a devil's cane.
- In botanical or gardening contexts, this plant is often discussed for its value in creating impenetrable hedges or natural barriers for wildlife.
Variants and Related Words
- Aralia spinosa (n): The scientific, botanical name for the devil's walking stick.
- Hercules' club (n): Another common name for the same plant, also referencing its strong, club-like, and spiny stems.
- Prickly ash (n): While a different plant (), it shares the characteristic of sharp spines and can sometimes be confused in common names.
Synonyms
- Spiny shrub: A general descriptive term.
- Thorny tree: A general descriptive term.
Related Phrases
- As prickly as a devil's walking stick: An idiomatic comparison to describe something or someone that is very difficult to approach or deal with.
- After the argument, his mood was as prickly as a devil's walking stick.
Related Idioms
- To have a hide like a devil's walking stick: To be very tough, resilient, or insensitive to criticism (figuratively).
- You need a hide like a devil's walking stick to survive in politics.
Noun
-
small deciduous clump-forming tree or shrub of eastern United States
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