Caltrop
any of several plants having spiny heads or fruit, as those of the genera Tribulus and Kallstroemia, or the star thistle, Centaurea calcitrapa.
an iron ball with four projecting spikes so disposed that when the ball is on the ground one of them always points upward: used to obstruct the passage of cavalry, armored vehicles, etc.
Historical Examples
The Childerbridge Mystery Guy Boothby
The Life of the Fly J. Henri Fabre
noun
any tropical or subtropical plant of the zygophyllaceous genera Tribulus and Kallstroemia that have spiny burs or bracts
water caltrop, another name for water chestnut (sense 1)
another name for the star thistle
(military) a four-spiked iron ball or four joined spikes laid upon the ground as a device to lame cavalry horses, puncture tyres, etc
Read Also:
- Caltrop-family
the plant family Zygophyllaceae, typified by tropical herbaceous plants and shrubs having pinnate leaves, solitary or paired regular flowers, and fruit in the form of a capsule, and including the creosote bush, lignum vitae, and puncture vine.
- Calumet
a long-stemmed, ornamented tobacco pipe used by North American Indians on ceremonial occasions, especially in token of peace. Historical Examples Shaman Robert Shea Common Science Carleton W. Washburne Calumet ‘K’ Samuel Merwin The Adventures of the Chevalier De La Salle and His Companions, in Their Explorations of the Prairies, Forests, Lakes, and Rivers, of the […]
- Calumet-city
a city in NE Illinois, near Chicago.
- Calumniate
to make false and malicious statements about; slander. Historical Examples The Knight Of Gwynne, Vol. II (of II) Charles James Lever The Gods are Athirst Anatole France Les Misrables Victor Hugo Letters of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Vol. I (of 2) Samuel Taylor Coleridge Carmen Ariza Charles Francis Stocking The Correspondence of Madame, Princess Palatine, Mother […]
- Calumniation
to make false and malicious statements about; slander. Historical Examples Epistle Sermons, Vol. II Martin Luther Love for Love William Congreve Drake, Nelson and Napoleon Walter Runciman The Consolation of Philosophy Boethius verb (transitive) to slander n. v.