ˈtribyələs noun
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, caltrop, from Greek tribolos, any of various prickly plants, threshing board studded with spikes; akin to Latin tribulum threshing board
: a genus of chiefly tropical or subtropical herbs (family Zygophyllaceae) introduced into No. America with pinnate leaves and yellow or white flowers succeeded by a spiny or prickly fruit of five indehiscent tuberculate carpels — see burnut , caltrop 1b