caltrop

[ kal-truhp ]

noun

1. any of several plants having spiny heads or fruit, as those of the genera Tribulus and Kallstroemia, or the star thistle, Centaurea calcitrapa.
2. an iron ball with four projecting spikes so disposed that when the ball is on the ground one of them always points upward: used to obstruct the passage of cavalry, armored vehicles, etc.

caltrop

/ ˈkæltrəp; ˈkælθrəp /

noun

1. any tropical or subtropical plant of the zygophyllaceous genera Tribulus and Kallstroemia that have spiny burs or bracts
2. See water chestnut
   water caltrop
   water caltrop another name for water chestnut
3. See star thistle
   another name for the star thistle
4. military a four-spiked iron ball or four joined spikes laid upon the ground as a device to lame cavalry horses, puncture tyres, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of caltrop¹

before 1000; Middle English calketrappe, Old English calcatrippe, colte-træppe, equivalent to calce- (< Latin calci-, stem of calx spur, heel) + træppe trap ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of caltrop¹

Old English calcatrippe (the plant), from Medieval Latin calcatrippa, probably from Latin calx heel + trippa trap ¹

Example Sentences

A telegram was accordingly despatched to Mrs. Caltrop, asking her to forward the address of the doctor in question.

From Project Gutenberg

Sooner or later, the worm forsakes this kind of caltrop which catches on to everything.

From Project Gutenberg