CALTROP

caltrop, star-thistle, Centauria calcitrapa

(noun) Mediterranean annual or biennial herb having pinkish to purple flowers surrounded by spine-tipped scales; naturalized in America

caltrop, devil's weed, Tribulus terestris

(noun) tropical annual procumbent poisonous subshrub having fruit that splits into five spiny nutlets; serious pasture weed

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

caltrop (plural caltrops)

(weaponry) A small, metal object with spikes arranged so that, when thrown onto the ground, one always faces up as a threat to pedestrians, horses, and vehicles.

(heraldry) The same object represented as a heraldic charge.

(colloquial) The starthistle, Centaurea calcitrapa, a plant with sharp thorns.

Any of a number of flowering plants in the family Zygophyllaceae, including several members of the genus Kallstroemia and the species Tribulus terrestris, native to warm temperate and tropical regions.

Synonyms

• (weaponry): caltrap, galtrop, cheval trap, galthrap, galtrap, calthrop, crow’s foot

• (starthistle): knapweed

• (Tribulus terrestris): puncturevine, cat's head, yellow vine, goathead, burra, gokharu, bindii.

Source: Wiktionary

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Cal"trop, Cal"trap, n. Etym: [OE. calketrappe, calletrappe, caltor (in both senses), fr. AS. collræppe, calcetreppe, sort of thistle; cf. F. chaussetrape star thistle, trap, It. calcatreppo, calcatreppolo, star thistle. Perh. from L. calx heel + the same word as E. trap. See 1st Trap.]

1. (Bot.)

Definition: A genus of herbaceous plants (Tribulus) of the order Zygophylleæ, having a hard several-celled fruit, armed with stout spines, and resembling the military instrument of the same name. The species grow in warm countries, and are often very annoying to cattle.

2. (Mil.)

Definition: An instrument with four iron points, so disposed that, any three of them being on the ground, the other projects upward. They are scattered on the ground where an enemy's cavalry are to pass, to impede their progress by endangering the horses' feet.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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