caltrop; caltrap
A historical spiked device scattered on the ground to hinder infantry and cavalry; used in feudal Japan. The term is primarily encountered in historical or martial contexts.
The ninja scattered caltrops as they fled.
I saw an actual caltrop at the museum.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical weapon.
Variant spelling with okurigana; also seen in historical texts.
From 撒く (まく, 'to scatter') + 菱 (ひし, 'water chestnut' or 'diamond shape'), referring to the spiked shape of the caltrop. The reading びし is a rendaku form of ひし.