Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
terrapin
5 dictionary results for: terrapin
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ter·ra·pin       [ter-uh-pin] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.any of several edible North American turtles of the family Emydidae, inhabiting fresh or brackish waters, esp. the diamondback terrapin: some are threatened or endangered.
2.any of various similar turtles.

[Origin: 1605–15; earlier torope (< Virginia Algonquian < Eastern Algonquian *to·rəpe·w variety of turtle > Munsee Delaware tó·lpe·w) + -in, of uncert. orig.]
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ter·ra·pin       (těr'ə-pĭn)  Pronunciation Key 
n.   Any of various North American aquatic turtles of the family Emydiolae, especially the genus Malaclemys, which includes the diamondback terrapin.


[Alteration of torope, from Virginia Algonquian.]

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
terrapin 
N.Amer. turtle, 1672, earlier torope (1613), from an Algonquian source (e.g. Abnaki turepe, Delaware tulpe "turtle"). Subsequently extended to allied species in S.Amer., E.Indies, China, N.Africa.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
terrapin

noun
any of various edible North American web-footed turtles living in fresh or brackish water 

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Terrapin

Ter"ra*pin\, n. [Probably of American Indian origin.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of tortoises living in fresh and brackish waters. Many of them are valued for food. [Written also terapin, terrapen, terrapene, and turapen.]

Note: The yellow-bellied terrapin (Pseudemys acebra) of the Southern United States, the red-bellied terrapin (Pseudemys rugosa), native of the tributaries Chesapeake Bay (called also potter, slider, and redfender), and the diamond-back or salt-marsh terrapin (Malaclemmys palustris), are the most important American species. The diamond-back terrapin is native of nearly the whole of the Atlantic coast of the United States.

Alligator terrapin, the snapping turtle.

Mud terrapin, any one of numerous species of American tortoises of the genus Cinosternon.

Painted terrapin, the painted turtle. See under Painted.

Speckled terrapin, a small fresh-water American terrapin (Chelopus guttatus) having the carapace black with round yellow spots; -- called also spotted turtle.

Share This:Share This: digg.comShare This: ma.gnolia.comShare This: www.stumbleupon.comShare This: del.icio.usShare This: FacebookShare This: favorites.live.comShare This: www.technorati.comShare This: furl.netShare This: myweb2.search.yahoo.comShare This: www.google.com