LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · masculinesecond declension

tribulus

tribulus m (genitive tribulī)

Meaning

  1. masculinecaltrop (both the plant Tribulus terrestris and the weapon)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativetribulustribulī
genitivetribulītribulōrum
dativetribulōtribulīs
accusativetribulumtribulōs
ablativetribulōtribulīs
vocativetribuletribulī

trĭbŭlus (trĭbŏl-), i, m., = τρίβολος,
I. an instrument resting on three of its iron prongs, while a fourth projected upward, thrown on the ground to impede an enemy's cavalry, a caltrop.
I. Lit.: tribulos abjecerunt, Veg. Mil. 3, 24.—
II. Transf., from its resemblance in form.
A. A kind of thorn or thistle, land-caltrops: Tribulus terrestris, Linn.; Verg. G. 1, 153; Ov. M. 13, 803; Plin. 21, 15, 54, § 91: spinae et tribuli, Vulg. Gen. 3, 18.—
B. A kind of water-plant bearing a prickly nut of a triangular form, water - chestnut, water - caltrops: Trapa natans, Linn.; Plin. 21, 16, 58, § 98.

Origins

From Ancient Greek τρίβολος (tríbolos). Do not confuse with trībulum (“threshing-sledge”).

Descendants
  • Catalantríbol
  • Italiantrebbia
  • Portuguesetríbulo
  • Portuguesetrilho
  • Spanishtríbulo

In the Academy Smith's classical dictionaries

AntiquitiesTribulusTribulus (τρίβολος), a caltrop, also called murex (V. Max. 3.7.2; Curt. 4.13.36). When a place was beset with troops, the one party endeavoured to imp…

Quick answers

What does tribulus mean in Latin?
tribulus, a noun, means “caltrop (both the plant Tribulus terrestris and the weapon)”.
What is the genitive of tribulus?
The genitive singular is tribulī. tribulus is masculine, second declension.