CALTROP


Meaning of CALTROP in English

[ 'kaltrəp ]

(also caltrap )

■ noun

1》 a spiked metal ball thrown on the ground to impede wheeled vehicles or (formerly) cavalry horses.

2》 a creeping plant with woody carpels that typically have hard spines. [Genus Tribulus .]

3》 (also water ~ ) another term for water chestnut (in sense 2).

Origin

OE calcatrippe , from med. L. calcatrippa , from calx 'heel' or calcare 'to tread' + a word related to trap 1 .

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.