ACANTH'US, noun [G. and Latin acanthus from a prickle or thorn. See acantha.] 1. The plant bear's breech or brank ursine; a genus of several species, receiving their name from their prickles. 2. In architecture, an ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of the acanthus used in capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI