tortoise : Idioms & Phrases

Index

Alligator snapper, Alligator tortoise, Alligator turtle

  • (Zoöl.), a very large and voracious turtle (Macrochelys lacertina) in habiting the rivers of the southern United States. It sometimes reaches the weight of two hundred pounds. Unlike the common snapping turtle, to which the name is sometimes erroneously applied, it has a scaly head and many small scales beneath the tail. This name is sometimes given to other turtles, as to species of Trionyx.
Webster 1913

Bearded tortoise

  • . (Zoöl.) See Matamata.
Webster 1913

Box tortoise

  • noun chiefly terrestrial turtle of North America; shell can be closed tightly
    box turtle.
WordNet
  • (Zoöl.), a land tortoise or turtle of the genera Cistudo and Emys; so named because it can withdraw entirely within its shell, which can be closed by hinged joints in the lower shell. Also, humorously, an exceedingly reticent person. Emerson.
Webster 1913

Box tortoise, Land tortoise, etc.

  • See under Box, Land, etc.
Webster 1913

desert tortoise

  • noun burrowing tortoise of the arid western United States and northern Mexico; may be reclassified as a member of genus Xerobates
    Gopherus agassizii.
WordNet

Elephantine tortoise

  • (Zoöl.), a huge land tortoise; esp., Testudo elephantina, from islands in the Indian Ocean; and T. elephantopus, from the Galapagos Islands.
Webster 1913

european tortoise

  • noun small land tortoise of southern Europe
    Testudo graeca.
WordNet

giant tortoise

  • noun very large tortoises of the Galapagos and Seychelles islands
WordNet

gopher tortoise

  • noun burrowing edible land tortoise of southeastern North America
    Gopherus polypemus; gopher turtle; gopher.
WordNet

Land tortoise, Land turtle

  • (Zoöl.), any tortoise that habitually lives on dry land, as the box tortoise. See Tortoise.
Webster 1913

Mud turtle, Mud tortoise

  • (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of fresh-water tortoises of the United States.
Webster 1913

Musk tortoise, Musk turtle

  • (Zoöl.), a small American fresh-water tortoise (Armochelys, ∨ Ozotheca, odorata), which has a distinct odor of musk; called also stinkpot.
Webster 1913

Painted tortoise

  • noun freshwater turtles having bright yellow and red markings; common in the eastern United States
    painted turtle; Chrysemys picta; painted terrapin.
WordNet
  • . (Zoöl.) See Painted turtle, under Painted.
Webster 1913

Pond tortoise, Pond turtle

  • (Zoöl.), any freshwater tortoise of the family Emydidæ. Numerous species are found in North America.
Webster 1913

River tortoise

  • (Zoöl.), any one of numerous fresh-water tortoises inhabiting rivers, especially those of the genus Trionyx and allied genera. See Trionyx.
Webster 1913

Sculptured tortoise

  • (Zoöl.), a common North American wood tortoise (Glyptemys insculpta). The shell is marked with strong grooving and ridges which resemble sculptured figures.
Webster 1913

Soft tortoise

  • (Zoöl.), any river tortoise of the genus Trionyx. See Trionyx.
Webster 1913

Soft-shell tortoise

  • . (Zoöl.) See Trionyx.
Webster 1913

Spotted tortoise

  • . (Zoöl.) A small American fresh-water tortoise (Chelopus, ∨ Nanemys, quttatus) having a blackish carapace on which are scattered round yellow spots.
Webster 1913

texas tortoise

  • noun close relative to the desert tortoise; may be reclassified as a member of genus Xerobates
WordNet

Tortoise beetle

  • (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small tortoise-shaped beetles. Many of them have a brilliant metallic luster. the larvæ 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.
Webster 1913

Tortoise plant

  • noun South African vine having a massive rootstock covered with deeply fissured bark
    Dioscorea elephantipes; Hottentot's bread vine; elephant's-foot; Hottentot bread vine.
WordNet
  • . (Bot.) See Elephant's foot, under Elephant.
Webster 1913

Tortoise shell

  • the substance of the shell or horny plates of several species of sea turtles, especially of the hawkbill turtle. It is used in inlaying and in the manufacture of various ornamental articles.
Webster 1913

Tortoise-shell butterfly

  • (Zoöl.), any one of several species of handsomely colored butterflies of the genus Aglais, as A. Milberti, and A. urticæ, both of which, in the larva state, feed upon nettles.
Webster 1913

Tortoise-shell turtle

  • (Zoöl.), the hawkbill turtle. See Hawkbill.
Webster 1913

Wood tortoise

  • (Zoöl.), sculptured tortoise. See under Sculptured.
Webster 1913