TORCH'-THISTLE, noun A plant of the genus Cactus.common name of a subdivision of the genus Cactus, called also cereus, from cera, wax, from the resemblance of the stems to a wax candle. torch-thistle is from the prickly stems, used by the Indians for torches. TORCH'-WORT, noun A plant.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI