Category:Turtle

Tur"tle, n. Etym: [as. turtle, l. turtur; probably of imitative Origin. Cf. Turtle the sea tortoise.] (zoöl.)

Defn: the turtledove.

Turtle Tur"tle, n. Etym: [probably the same word as the word preceding, and Substituted (probably by sailors) for the spanish or portuguese name; Cf. Sp. tortuga tortoise, turtle, pg. tartaruga, also f. tortue, and E. tortoise.]

1. (zoöl.)

Defn: any one of the numerous species of testudinata, especially a Sea turtle, or chelonian.

Note: in the united states the land and fresh-water tortoises are Also called turtles.

2. (printing)

Defn: the curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving Cylinder press. Alligator turtle, box turtle, etc. See under Alligator, box, etc. -- green turtle (zoöl.), a marine turtle of the genus chelonia, Having usually a smooth greenish or olive-colored shell. It is highly Valued for the delicacy of its flesh, which is used especially for Turtle soup. Two distinct species or varieties are known; one of Which (chelonia midas) inhabits the warm part of the atlantic ocean, And sometimes weighs eight hundred pounds or more; the other (c. Virgata) inhabits the pacific ocean. Both species are similar in Habits and feed principally on seaweed and other marine plants, Especially the turtle grass. -- turtle cowrie (zoöl.), a large, handsome cowrie (cypræa Testudinaria); the turtle-shell; so called because of its fancied Resemblance to a tortoise in color and form. -- turtle grass (bot.), a marine plant (thalassia testudinum) with Grasslike leaves, common about the west indies. -- turtle shell, tortoise shell. See under tortoise.