caltrop

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun tropical annual procumbent poisonous subshrub having fruit that splits into five spiny nutlets; serious pasture weed
  2. noun a plant of the genus Trapa bearing spiny four-pronged edible nutlike fruits
  3. noun Mediterranean annual or biennial herb having pinkish to purple flowers surrounded by spine-tipped scales; naturalized in America

Etymology

From Middle English calketrappe, from Old English calcatrippe, from Medieval Latin calcatrippa (“thistle”), from Latin calx or calcare (“to tread”) + trappa (“trap”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

devil's weed, Tribulus terestris

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