The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hawthorn \Haw"thorn`\ (h[add]"th[^o]rn`), n. [AS. haga[thorn]orn, h[ae]g[thorn]orn. See Haw a hedge, and Thorn.] (Bot.) A thorny shrub or tree (the Crat[ae]gus oxyacantha), having deeply lobed, shining leaves, small, roselike, fragrant flowers, and a fruit called haw. It is much used in Europe for hedges, and for standards in gardens. The American hawthorn is Crat[ae]gus cordata, which has the leaves but little lobed.
Gives not the hawthorn bush a sweeter shade
To shepherds?
--Shak.
Wikipedia
The name Crataegus oxyacantha L. has been rejected as being of uncertain application, but is sometimes still used.
Usage examples of "crataegus oxyacantha".
The Hawthorn is called Crataegus Oxyacantha from the Greek kratos, meaning hardness (of the wood), oxcus (sharp), and akantha (a thorn).