[tor.toise.shell] n (1632) 1: the mottled horny substance of the shell of some turtles (as the hawksbill turtle) used in inlaying and in making various ornamental articles
2: any of several showy nymphalid butterflies (genus Nymphalis)
[2]tortoiseshell adj (1651) 1: made of or resembling tortoiseshell esp. in mottled brown and yellow coloring
2: of, relating to, or being a color pattern of the domestic cat consisting of p atches of black, orange, and cream