Lexic.us

Definition of Tortoise

1. Noun. Usually herbivorous land turtles having clawed elephant-like limbs; worldwide in arid area except Australia and Antarctica.

Definition of Tortoise

1. n. Any one of numerous species of reptiles of the order Testudinata.

Definition of Tortoise

1. Noun. Any of various land-dwelling reptiles, of family ''Testudinidae'', whose body is enclosed in a shell (carapace plus plastron). The animal can withdraw its head and four legs partially into the shell, providing some protection from predators. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Tortoise

1. any of an order of reptiles having the body enclosed in a bony shell [n -S]

Medical Definition of Tortoise

1. 1. Any one of numerous species of reptiles of the order Testudinata. The term is applied especially to the land and fresh water species, while the marine species are generally called turtles, but the terms tortoise and turtle are used synonymously by many writers. See Testudinata, Terrapin, and Turtle. 2. Same as Testudo. Box tortoise, Land tortoise, etc. See Box, Land, etc. Painted tortoise. Any one of numerous species of small tortoise-shaped beetles. Many of them have a brilliant metallic luster. The larvae feed upon the leaves of various plants, and protect themselves beneath a mass of dried excrement held over the back by means of the caudal spines. The golden tortoise beetle (Cassida aurichalcea) is found on the morning-glory vine and allied plants. Tortoise plant. The hawkbill turtle. See Hawkbill. Origin: OE. Tortuce, fr. OF. Tortis crooked, fr. L. Tortus isted, crooked, contorted, p.p. Of torquere, tortum, to wind; cf. F. Tortue tortoise, LL. Tortuca, tartuca, Pr. Tortesa crookedness, tortis crooked. So called in allusion to its crooked feet. See Torture. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Tortoise

Literary usage of Tortoise

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Library of the World's Best Literature: Ancient and Modern by Charles Dudley Warner (1902)
"Now there dwelt a tortoise in a certain pond in the region of Himalaya. ... One day these two said to him: " Friend tortoise, we have a lovely home in ..."

2. The Harvard Classics by Charles William Eliot (1909)
"THE tortoise AND THE BIRDS A tortoise desired to change its place of residence, ... The Eagle agreed, and seizing the tortoise by the shell with her talons, ..."

3. Children's Literature: A Textbook of Sources for Teachers and Teacher by Charles Madison Curry (1921)
"219 THE HARE AND THE tortoise The Hare one day laughed at the tortoise for his short ... "Though you may be swift as the wind," replied the tortoise good- ..."

4. Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales by Robert Hamill Nassau (1914)
"Leopard said to tortoise, "I will live with you, but I shall not be able to ... Some time after this, tortoise went away, and married a wife. ..."

5. A History of the Earth, and Animated Nature by Oliver Goldsmith (1824)
"However, Seba has proved that all tortoises are amphibious; that the land tortoise will live in the water, and that the sea turtle can be fed upon land. ..."

6. Contemporary French Novelists: And Other Tales from India by William Henry Denham Rouse, William Crooke, William Heath Robinson, René Doumic, Mary D. Frost (1922)
"The Fowler gave back thought," said the tortoise, pond. the first ruby. ... As you have guessed, when the tortoise found himself safe at the bottom of the ..."

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