Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Turtle
Tur′tle
(tûr′t’l)
, Noun.
(Zool.)
The turtledove.
Tur′tle
,Noun.
[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.
(Zool.)
Any one of the numerous species of Testudinata, especially a sea turtle, or chelonian.
☞ In the United States the land and fresh-water tortoises are also called turtles.
2.
(Printing)
The curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press.
Alligator turtle
, Box turtle
green turtle
(Zool.)
, 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 (Chelonia 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
(Zool.)
, a large, handsome cowrie (
– Cypraea 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
.Webster 1828 Edition
Turtle
TUR'TLE
,Noun.
1.
A fowl of the genus Columba; called also the turtle dove, and turtle pigeon. It is a wild species, frequenting the thickest parts of the woods, and its note is plaintive and tender.2.
The name sometimes given to the common tortoise.3.
The name given to the large sea-tortoise.