Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Thorny \Thorn"y\, a. [Compar. {Thornier}; superl. {Thorniest}.]
   [Cf. AS. [thorn]orniht.]
   1. Full of thorns or spines; rough with thorns; spiny; as, a
      thorny wood; a thorny tree; a thorny crown.

   2. Like a thorn or thorns; hence, figuratively, troublesome;
      vexatious; harassing; perplexing. ``The thorny point of
      bare distress.'' --Shak.

            The steep and thorny way to heaven.   --Shak.

   {Thorny rest-harrow} (Bot.), rest-harrow.

   {Thorny trefoil}, a prickly plant of the genus {Fagonia} ({F.
      Cretica}, etc.).