caltrop noun. ['kaltrǝp] Also caltrap.
[Old English calcatrippe from medieval Latin calcatrippa, -trappa; senses 2 & 3 from (ult. identical) Old French kauketrape dial. var. of cauchetrape, chauche- (mod. chaussetrape), from chauchier tread + trappe trap.]
1. Orig., a plant which tended to catch or entangle the feet. Later, a plant with a flower-head suggestive of the military instrument (sense 3 below); spec. (a) a water chestnut, Trapa natans (also water caltrop(s)); (b) a member of the genus Tribulus. OE.

2. A trap or snare for the feet. ME-M19.

3. Hist. An iron ball with four spikes placed so that one is always projecting upwards, thrown on the ground to impede cavalry horses. Also, a heraldic representation of this. LME.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲