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

tortoise +‎ shell.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈtɔː(ɹ)tə.ˌʃɛl/
  • IPA(key): /ˈtɔː(ɹ)təs.ˌʃɛl/

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

hawksbill turtle — see hawksbill turtle

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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