What do you call
this?
In case you can't open the picture, it is an X-shaped iron military obstacle. They were put on the beach at Normandy to try and stop boats landing.
Edit: typo
Thank you.
(Hm. Wiki has the same picture I posted. It's a small World Wide Web after all).
There's a better word: caltrop. See the wikipedia entry for same.
The
caltrop has a slightly different configuration. It has four points, three of which form the base; the other points straight up and blows out tires. Or punctures horses' hooves.
there's a slight difference in scale!
(see caltrop formed from nails pic vs. men next to hedgehog)
1. Caltrops came in many different configurations.
2. If it looks like a caltrop and acts like a caltrop. . ..
3. Caltrop's a much more interesting word than Czech hedgehog.
Caltrop, burnut, of puncture vine (Tribulus terrestrius)is a splendid growth bearing tiny yellow flowers, but the seeds are very sharp and pointy, sticking to your tires, your socks, or anything else affording them a grip