Crossword clues for caltrop
caltrop
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Caltrop \Cal"trop\, Caltrap \Cal"trap\, n. [OE. calketrappe, calletrappe, caltor (in both senses), fr. AS. collr[ae]ppe, calcetreppe, sort of thistle; cf. F. chaussetrape star thistle, trap, It. calcatreppo, calcatreppolo, star thistle. Perh. from L. calx heel + the same word as E. trap. See 1st Trap.]
(Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants ( Tribulus) of the order Zygophylle[ae], having a hard several-celled fruit, armed with stout spines, and resembling the military instrument of the same name. The species grow in warm countries, and are often very annoying to cattle.
(Mil.) An instrument with four iron points, so disposed that, any three of them being on the ground, the other projects upward. They are scattered on the ground where an enemy's cavalry are to pass, to impede their progress by endangering the horses' feet.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (senseid en weaponry)(context weaponry English) A small, metal object with spikes arranged so that, when thrown onto the ground, one always faces up as a threat to passers-by. 2 (context heraldiccharge English) This object used as a heraldic charge. 3 (context colloquial English) The starthistle, (taxlink Centaurea calcitrapa species noshow=1), a plant with sharp thorns. 4 A flowering plant, (taxlink Tribulus terrestris species noshow=1), in the family Zygophyllaceae, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Old World.
WordNet
n. tropical annual procumbent poisonous subshrub having fruit that splits into five spiny nutlets; serious pasture weed [syn: devil's weed, Tribulus terestris]
a plant of the genus Trapa bearing spiny four-pronged edible nutlike fruits [syn: water chestnut, water chestnut plant]
Mediterranean annual or biennial herb having pinkish to purple flowers surrounded by spine-tipped scales; naturalized in America [syn: star-thistle, Centauria calcitrapa]
Wikipedia
A caltrop (also known as caltrap, galtrop, cheval trap, galthrap, galtrap, calthrop or crow's foot) is an antipersonnel weapon made up of two or more sharp nails or spines arranged in such a manner that one of them always points upward from a stable base (for example, a tetrahedron). Caltrops were part of defenses that served to slow the advance of horses, war elephants, and human troops. They were particularly effective against the soft feet of camels. In more modern times, caltrops are still effective when used against wheeled vehicles with pneumatic tires.
The modern name "caltrop" is derived from the Latin calcitrapa (foot-trap), such as in the French usage chausse-trape. The synonymous Latin word tribulus gave rise to the modern Latin name of a plant, Tribulus terrestris ( Zygophyllaceae), whose spiked seed case can injure feet and puncture tires. This plant can also be compared to the starthistle, Centaurea calcitrapa, which is sometimes referred to as the "caltrop". A water plant with similarly-shaped spiked seeds is called the " water caltrop", Trapa natans.
Usage examples of "caltrop".
On the bridge itself, his cavalry had pushed through the barricade of caltrops but had failed to crush the wall of lancers awaiting them on the other side.
Al put out the caltrops, spiked chains that would stop a vehicle by blowing the tires out.
The mules were terrified, bucking and cavorting as if there were caltrops under their saddles and venomous snakes under their feet.
The king in his mind feared covered pitfalls, sharp stakes hidden in the ground, iron caltrops forged so that one of the four spikes was up no matter how the object fellall the material traps that a wily general strews in front of a hostile army.
Saryn are still down in the great room, talking over something obscure, like whether caltrops are really that effective except in defending fixed emplacements and whether two-handed blades are useful in mounted attacks.
That was so the harbor smiths could do things like caltrops and stimuli.
Pretty soon, I'll have to do caltrops, or get Yarrl to do them for me.
No matter how the caltrop is thrown, one pointed end will always face up, ready to impale anything that steps or falls upon it.
You have the plow done in ten days, and I'll have the caltrops and the stock for you.
When the Norvans had broken through the caltrops, Layton's fifteen men had splintered like twigs.
Clive's team were out of their car and Al put out the caltrops, spiked chains that would stop a vehicle by blowing the tires out.
Once empty fertilizer bags were now bulging full of wire snares, pipe bombs, homemade caltrops, and everything from aerosol cans to a gallon can of floor-tile glue.
And the portion of the host that had not entered the kill zone was spreading to either side, despite the caltrops and craters.
He crosses the kitchen and slumps into the chair at the end of the table, knowing that he should either return to the smithy or ride over to see Yarrl about the caltrops.