tortoiseshell
[-s̸hel′]
noun
- the hard, mottled, yellow-and-brown shell of some turtles and tortoises, used in inlaying and, esp. formerly, in making combs, frames for eyeglasses, etc.
- a synthetic substance made in imitation of this
- a mottled, yellow-and-brown color pattern
- any of several common, black and yellow-brown butterflies (genus Nymphalis) with markings resembling those of tortoise shell
- a cat with a mottled coat of black, brown, red or yellow, white, etc.
Also tortoise-shell
tortoiseshell
also tor·toise shell
noun
- a. The mottled, horny, translucent, brownish covering of the carapace of certain tortoises or turtles, especially the hawksbill, formerly widely used to make combs, jewelry, and other articles.b. A synthetic imitation of natural tortoiseshell.
- See hawksbill.
- A domestic cat having a coat with irregular patches of different colors, usually black and reddish-orange.
- Any of several butterflies, chiefly of the genus Nymphalis, having wings with orange, black, and brown markings.
Related Forms:
- tor′toise-shell′
adjective
tortoiseshell
Noun
(usually uncountable, plural tortoiseshells)
Adjective
(not comparable)
- made of the covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle
- having markings resembling covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle
A small tortoiseshell butterfly, Nymphalis urticae.