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(), n.[OE. tortuce, fr. OF. tortis crooked, fr. L. tortus isted, crooked, contorted, p. p. of torquere, tortum, to wind; cf. F. tortue tortoise, LL. tortuca, tartuca, Pr. tortesa crookedness, tortis crooked. so called in allusion to its crooked feet. See Torture.] 1. (Zol.) Any one of numerous species of reptiles of the order Testudinata. The term is applied especially to the land and fresh-water species, while the marine species are generally called turtles, but the terms tortoise and turtle are used synonymously by many writers. see Testudinata, Terrapin, and Turtle. 2. (Rom. Antiq.) Same as Testudo, 2. Box tortoise, Land tortoise, etc. See under Box, Land, etc. Painted tortoise. (Zol.) See Painted turtle, under Painted. Soft-shell tortoise. (Zol.) See Trionyx. Spotted tortoise. (Zol.) A small American fresh-water tortoise (Chelopus, or Nanemys, quttatus) having a blackish carapace on which are scattered round yellow spots. スポンサード リンク
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