type of tall herb or shrub native to the Mediterranean regions, 1660s, from Latin acanthus, name of the plant, from Greek akanthos, from ake "point, thorn" (see acrid) + anthos "flower& [..]

Plant of which the leaves are represented in a classical capital of the Corinthian order.    (Wood, Margaret. The English Medieval House, 409)

(n) any plant of the genus Acanthus having large spiny leaves and spikes or white or purplish flowers; native to Mediterranean region but widely cultivated

N M bear's-foot| (black) hellbore (plant); gum arabic tree/wood

(Lat. acanthus

Origin: L, from Gr. Cf. Acantha. 1. <botany> A genus of herbaceous prickly plants, found in the south of Europe, Asia Minor, and India; bear's-breech. 2. An ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of the acanthus (Acanthus spinosus); used in the capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders. (01 Mar 1998)

The acanthus leaf was used as a decorative motif on the Corinthian capital and later on the Composite capital. The form is a stylized version of the plant's long, slender leaves and pointed flowe [..]

Derived from the Greek akanthos. A plant with serrated leaves commonly used in Greek architecture and was continued in Islamic architecture, in both natural and abstract forms. 

This term refers to a type of decorative element found in architecture derived from the acanthus leaves found in the Mediterranean.

Stylized carving of the acanthus leaf commonly used to decorate furniture.

Acanthoideae|subfamily|noshow=1'' - subfamily; ''Acantheae|tribe|noshow=1'' - tribe