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.
–adjective Also, tortoise-shell.
4.
mottled or variegated like tortoiseshell, esp. with yellow and brown and sometimes other colors.
hawks·bill (hôks'bĭl') n. A tropical sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) valued as a source of tortoiseshell. Also called tortoiseshell.
tor·toise·shell also tor·toise-shell or tor·toise shell (tôr'tĭs-shěl') n.
The mottled, horny, translucent, brownish covering of the carapace of certain tortoises or turtles, especially the hawksbill, used to make combs, jewelry, and other articles.
[tawr-tuh
s-shel] 