/ ˈtɔːtəs; NAmE ˈtɔːrtəs/ noun
a reptile with a hard round shell, that lives on land and moves very slowly. It can pull its head and legs into its shell.
—compare terrapin , turtle
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English tortu , tortuce : from Old French tortue and Spanish tortuga , both from medieval Latin tortuca , of uncertain origin. The current spelling dates from the mid 16th cent.