Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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}.]
   1. (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.

   2. (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.