turtle

tur·tle 1   (tûr'tl)    n.   Any of various aquatic or terrestrial reptiles of the order Testudines (or Chelonia), having horny toothless jaws and a bony or leathery shell into which the head, limbs, and tail can be withdrawn in most species. Chiefly British A sea turtle. intr.v.   tur·tled, tur·tling, tur·tles To hunt for turtles, especially as an occupation. Nautical To capsize. [Perhaps from French tortue, from Old French, from Medieval Latin *tortūca, perhaps alteration (influenced by Latin tortus, twisted, from the shape of its legs) of Vulgar Latin *tartarūca, feminine of *tartarūcus, of Tartarus, from Late Latin tartarūchus, from Late Greek tartaroukhos, occupying Tartarus : Tartaros, Tartarus + ekhein, to hold; see eunuch.] tur'tler n.

turtle  (1)

Main Entry: tur·tle
Pronunciation: 't&rt-^&l
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural turtles also turtle
often attributive : any of an order (Testudines) of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine reptiles that have a toothless horny beak and a shell of bony dermal plates usually covered withhorny shields enclosing the trunk and into which the head, limbs, and tail usually may be withdrawn called also chelonian

turtle

see turn turtle.