[tawr-tuh
s-shel] 
| 1. | a horny substance of a mottled brown and yellow coloration, composing the laminae that cover the inner body plates of the carapace of a hawksbill turtle, used for making combs and ornamental articles, inlaying, etc. |
| 2. | any synthetic substance made to look like natural tortoise shell. |
| 3. | Also, tortoiseshell butterfly. any of several nymphalid butterflies of the genus Nymphalis, as N. californica, having variegated markings of red, yellow, or orange on the wings. |
| 4. | mottled or variegated like tortoiseshell, esp. with yellow and brown and sometimes other colors. |
| 5. | made of tortoiseshell. |
| tortoiseshell butterfly | |
noun | |
| brilliantly colored; larvae feed on nettles [syn: tortoiseshell] |