turtle 1
— turtler , n.
/terr"tl/ , n. , pl. turtles , ( esp. collectively ) turtle , v. , turtled, turtling .
n.
1. any reptile of the order Testudines, comprising aquatic and terrestrial species having the trunk enclosed in a shell consisting of a dorsal carapace and a ventral plastron.
2. (not used technically) an aquatic turtle as distinguished from a terrestrial one. Cf. tortoise (def. 1).
3. turn turtle ,
a. Naut. to capsize or turn over completely in foundering.
b. to overturn; upset: Several of the cars turned turtle in the course of the race.
v.i.
4. to catch turtles, esp. as a business.
[ 1625-35; alter. (influenced by TURTLE 2 ) of F tortue tortuca TORTOISE ]
turtle 2
/terr"tl/ , n. Archaic.
a turtledove.
[ bef. 1000; ME, OE turtur (imit.) ]