umbrella thorn, noun phrase

Origin:
So named for its wide-spreading crown.
The haak-en-steek (sense a), Acacia tortilis. Also attributive.
1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 521Umbrella thorn, Acacia spirocarpa..is so named in the Transvaal.
1988 A. Hall-Martin et al. Kaokoveld 12Umbrella thorns (Acacia tortilis) with a mean height of 12 metres are co-dominant with tall mopane trees.
1992 S. Afr. Panorama Mar. 120The lordly nyala come down to drink from dense surrounding woods with their characteristic umbrella thorn and candelabra trees.
1993 Getaway Nov. 76The spreading crowns of umbrella thorn trees Acacia tortilis perhaps best represent the archetypal image of the African savanna.
The haak-en-steek (sense a), Acacia tortilis. Also attributive.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

19131993

Browse Related Words

By Category

Trees
um-, umu-, prefixpref.umbrella-tree, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English