caltrop
- noun
- /ˈkæltrəp/
:
caltrop
- use of caltrops
Examples
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Enemy has caltrops here, and more importantly, they have a bunch of these Pikes holding firm with some peltas right before behind them.
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D'Cey spotted what looked like caltrops dotting the roadway.
Fiction book (2000) -
While walking in the field, I accidentally stepped on a caltrop, feeling its sharp spikes prick my foot.
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Farmers often try to remove caltrops from their pastures, as the spiny plants can harm livestock.
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Children playing in the grassy area discovered caltrops and learned to avoid the prickly fruits.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A poisonous tropical plant with spreading stems and spiny fruit that can harm farm animals
A low plant with spreading stems and sharp spiky fruits that poison grazing animals
Compounds
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word caltrop comes from old words meaning 'heel', shown in calx, and 'trap', shown in trap. Long ago a caltrop was a small spiky weapon dropped on the ground to hurt the feet of people or animals, so the wild plant took the same name because its tough, spiny seeds can also hurt bare feet in a field.