Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » tortoise

tortoise

(tôrt′əs)

a turtle, esp. one that lives on land, as any of a worldwide family (Testudinidae)

Origin: ME tortuce < ML tortuca, altered (prob. by assoc. with L tortus, twisted) < VL *tartaruca < ? LGr tartarouchos, evil demon, orig., controlling Tartarus

See tortoise in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. Any of various terrestrial turtles, especially one of the family Testudinidae, characteristically having thick clublike hind limbs and a high, rounded carapace.
b. Chiefly British A terrestrial or freshwater chelonian.
One that moves slowly; a laggard.

Origin:

Origin: Alteration (influenced by porpoise)

Origin: of Middle English tortuce

Origin: , from Medieval Latin tortūca

Origin: , alteration of Late Latin tartarūcha

Origin: , feminine of tartarūchus, of the underworld; see turtle ¹

Learn more about tortoise

tortoise in a sentence

tortoise quotes

link/cite print suggestion box