tor|toise

tor|toise
tor|toise «TR tuhs», noun, plural -tois|es or -toise.
1. a) a turtle living only on land, especially in dry regions. Tortoises have stumpy legs and a high, arched shell. b) any turtle.
2. Figurative. a very slow person or thing.
╂[alteration of Middle English tortuca < Medieval Latin, also tortua, variant of Vulgar Latin tartarūca hellish beast of Tartary; the symbol for heretics; spelling influenced by Latin tortus twisted (because of the shape of its feet)]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • tor|toise-shell — tortoise shell, 1. the mottled, yellow and brown shell of some turtles, especially the hawksbill turtle. It is much used for combs and ornaments. 2. any one of several butterflies spotted with yellow and black. 3. = tortoise shell cat. (Cf.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • tor·toise — …   Useful english dictionary

  • tor·toise·shell — /ˈtoɚtəˌʃɛl/ noun, pl shells 1 [count, noncount] : the usually brown and yellow shell of a turtle that is used to make decorations 2 [count] : a cat with yellow, orange, white, and black fur 3 [count] : a usually brown and orange butterfly… …   Useful english dictionary

  • tor — ab·ac·tor; ab·bre·vi·a·tor; ab·di·ca·tor; abet·tor; ab·ne·ga·tor; abom·i·na·tor; ab·sol·vi·tor; ab·strac·tor; ac·cel·er·a·tor; ac·cen·tor; ac·cen·tu·a·tor; ac·cep·tor; ac·com·mo·da·tor; ac·cu·mu·la·tor; acet·y·la·tor; ac·ti·va·tor; ac·tor;… …   English syllables

  • toise — por·toise; toise; tor·toise; tor·toise·shell; …   English syllables

  • tortoise — tor·toise …   English syllables

  • tortoiseshell — tor•toise•shell [[t]ˈtɔr təsˌʃɛl[/t]] n. Also, tor′toise shell . 1) ram the horny brown and yellow layer on the outer surface of the hawksbill turtle s carapace, used for making combs and ornamental articles 2) any synthetic substance made to… …   From formal English to slang

  • tortoise — tor|toise [ˈto:təs US ˈto:r ] n [Date: 1400 1500; : Old French; Origin: tortue, from Vulgar Latin tartaruca, from Late Latin tartaruchus of Tartarus , from Greek tartarouchos, from Tartaros Tartarus, the land of the dead in ancient stories ;… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • tortoiseshell — tor|toise|shell [ˈto:təsʃel, ˈto:təʃel US ˈto:r ] n 1.) [U] a hard shiny brown and white material made from the shell of a tortoise 2.) a cat that has yellow, brown, and black marks on its fur 3.) a ↑butterfly that has brown and orange wings …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • tortoise — tor|toise [ tɔrtəs ] noun count an animal that walks slowly and can pull its head and legs into the shell on its back …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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