tortoiseshell

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See also: tortoise shell, and tortoise-shell

English

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Wikipedia
A small tortoiseshell butterfly, Nymphalis urticae.

Etymology

From tortoise +‎ shell.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈtɔː(ɹ)təˌʃɛl/
  • IPA(key): /ˈtɔː(ɹ)təsˌʃɛl/

Noun

tortoiseshell (usually uncountable, plural tortoiseshells)

  1. The horny, translucent, mottled covering of the carapace of the hawksbill turtle, used as a veneer etc.
  2. The hawksbill turtle.
  3. A domestic cat (or a rabbit, guinea-pig, etc.) whose fur has black, brown and yellow markings.
  4. Any of several butterflies, mostly of the genera Nymphalis and Aglais that have similar markings.

Synonyms

  • (cat etc.): tort (colloquial), tortie (colloquial)

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

tortoiseshell (not comparable)

  1. Made of the covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle.
  2. Having markings resembling covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle.

Derived terms

Translations

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