1. a sharpened bamboo stake or spike, often poisoned, used as a booby trap or defensive obstacle
Usage: historical; military context; also spelled 'punji stick'

Examples

• Punji stakes were hidden in the jungle to injure soldiers.
• The defensive line was reinforced with punji traps.
• Soldiers had to watch carefully for concealed punji spikes.
• Punji sticks were a common weapon in guerrilla warfare.
• The booby trap consisted of sharpened punji stakes covered with leaves.