Related Searches
on Ask.com
Browse Nearby Entries
tortoise
6 dictionary results for: Tortoise
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
tor·toise 
[tawr-tuhs] Pronunciation Key
[tawr-tuhs] Pronunciation Key [Origin: 1350–1400; var. of earlier (15th-century) tortuse, tortose, tortuce, ME tortuca < ML tortūca, for LL tartarūcha (fem. adj.) of Tartarus (< Gk tartaroûcha), the tortoise being regarded as an infernal animal; ML form influenced by L tortus crooked, twisted (see tort)]
]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| tor·toise
(tôr'tĭs) Pronunciation Key
n.
[Alteration (influenced by porpoise) of Middle English tortuce, from Medieval Latin tortūca, alteration of Late Latin tartarūcha, feminine of tartarūchus, of the underworld; see turtle1.] |
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
tortoise
tortoise
1552, altered (perhaps by infl. of porpoise) from M.E. tortuse (1495), tortuce (1440), tortuge (1398), from M.L. tortuca (c.1255), perhaps from L.L. tartaruchus "of the underworld" (see turtle). Others propose a connection with L. tortus "twisted," based on the shape of the feet. The classical L. word was testudo, from testa "shell." First record of tortoise shell as a coloring pattern is from 1782.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| tortoise | |
noun | |
| usually herbivorous land turtles having clawed elephant-like limbs; worldwide in arid area except Australia and Antarctica |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Tortoise
Tor"toise\, n. [OE. tortuce, fr. OF. tortis crooked, fr. L. tortus isted, crooked, contorted, p. p. of torquere, tortum, to wind; cf. F. tortue tortoise, LL. tortuca, tartuca, Pr. tortesa crookedness, tortis crooked. so called in allusion to its crooked feet. See Torture.]1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of reptiles of the order Testudinata. Note: The term is applied especially to the land and fresh-water species, while the marine species are generally called turtles, but the terms tortoise and turtle are used synonymously by many writers. see Testudinata, Terrapin, and Turtle. 2. (Rom. Antiq.) Same as Testudo, 2. Box tortoise, Land tortoise, etc. See under Box, Land, etc. Painted tortoise. (Zo["o]l.) See Painted turtle, under Painted. Soft-shell tortoise. (Zo["o]l.) See Trionyx. Spotted tortoise. (Zo["o]l.) A small American fresh-water tortoise (Chelopus, or Nanemys, quttatus) having a blackish carapace on which are scattered round yellow spots. Tortoise beetle (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of small tortoise-shaped beetles. Many of them have a brilliant metallic luster. the larv[ae] feed upon the leaves of various plants, and protect themselves beneath a mass of dried excrement held over the back by means of the caudal spines. The golden tortoise beetle (Cassida aurichalcea) is found on the morning-glory vine and allied plants. Tortoise plant. (Bot.) See Elephant's foot, under Elephant. Tortoise shell, the substance of the shell or horny plates of several species of sea turtles, especially of the hawkbill turtle. It is used in inlaying and in the manufacture of various ornamental articles. Tortoise-shell butterfly (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of handsomely colored butterflies of the genus Aglais, as A. Milberti, and A. urtic[ae], both of which, in the larva state, feed upon nettles. Tortoise-shell turtle (Zo["o]l.), the hawkbill turtle. See Hawkbill.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Tortoise
(Heb. tsabh). Ranked among the unclean animals (Lev. 11:29). Land tortoises are common in Syria. The LXX. renders the word by "land crocodile." The word, however, more probably denotes a lizard, called by the modern Arabs _dhabb_.
Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Share This:
Copyright © 2008, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.