Tur·tle, n.
1. Zool. Any one of the numerous species of Testudinata, especially a sea turtle, or chelonian.
Note: ☞ 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, etc. See under Alligator, Box, etc.
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.
◄ ►