Meaning

(weaponry) A metal object, usually small, with spikes arranged so that, when thrown onto the ground, one always faces up as a threat to pedestrians, horses, and vehicles (also used as a heraldic charge)..

Definitions by Sense

1. (weaponry) A metal object, usually small, with spikes arranged so that, when thrown onto the ground, one always faces up as a threat to pedestrians, horses, and vehicles (also used as a heraldic charge).
2. (colloquial) The starthistle, Centaurea calcitrapa, a plant with sharp thorns.
3. Any of a number of flowering plants in the family Zygophyllaceae, including several members of the genus Kallstroemia and the species Tribulus terrestris, native to warm temperate and tropical regions.

Example Sentences

[…] her father, the emperor Alexius, who reigned AD 1081-1118, ordered caltrops to be cast in front of his archers […]

By Sung times, several different types of caltrops had been developed. As in earlier times, both caltrops could be made from both wood and iron...

Caltrops, tetrahedrons, and similar devices are designed to puncture vehicle tires or limit foot traffic. The standard design has four points.

Word Forms

• caltrops

Synonyms for caltrop

Related Words

When Should You Use Caltrop?

Use caltrop when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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