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tortoisemore about tortoise

tortoise


  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Tortoise  \Tor"toise\,  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.  (Zo["o]l.)  Any  one  of  numerous  species  of  reptiles  of  the 
  order  Testudinata. 
 
  Note:  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}.  (Zo["o]l.)  See  {Painted  turtle},  under 
  {Painted}. 
 
  {Soft-shell  tortoise}.  (Zo["o]l.)  See  {Trionyx}. 
 
  {Spotted  tortoise}.  (Zo["o]l.)  A  small  American  fresh-water 
  tortoise  ({Chelopus,  or  Nanemys  quttatus})  having  a 
  blackish  carapace  on  which  are  scattered  round  yellow 
  spots. 
 
  {Tortoise  beetle}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  numerous  species  of 
  small  tortoise-shaped  beetles.  Many  of  them  have  a 
  brilliant  metallic  luster.  the  larv[ae]  feed  upon  the 
  leaves  of  various  plants,  and  protect  themselves  beneath  a 
  mass  of  dried  excrement  held  over  the  back  by  means  of  the 
  caudal  spines.  The  golden  tortoise  beetle  ({Cassida 
  aurichalcea})  is  found  on  the  morning-glory  vine  and 
  allied  plants. 
 
  {Tortoise  plant}.  (Bot.)  See  {Elephant's  foot},  under 
  {Elephant}. 
 
  {Tortoise  shell},  the  substance  of  the  shell  or  horny  plates 
  of  several  species  of  sea  turtles,  especially  of  the 
  hawkbill  turtle.  It  is  used  in  inlaying  and  in  the 
  manufacture  of  various  ornamental  articles. 
 
  {Tortoise-shell  butterfly}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  one  of  several 
  species  of  handsomely  colored  butterflies  of  the  genus 
  {Aglais},  as  {A.  Milberti},  and  {A.  urtic[ae]},  both  of 
  which  in  the  larva  state,  feed  upon  nettles. 
 
  {Tortoise-shell  turtle}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  hawkbill  turtle.  See 
  {Hawkbill}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  tortoise 
  n  :  usually  herbivorous  land  turtles  having  clawed  elephant-like 
  limbs;  worldwide  in  arid  area  except  Australia  and 
  Antarctica 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Tortoise 
  (Heb.  tsabh).  Ranked  among  the  unclean  animals  (Lev.  11:29). 
  Land  tortoises  are  common  in  Syria.  The  LXX.  renders  the  word  by 
  "land  crocodile."  The  word  however,  more  probably  denotes  a 
  lizard,  called  by  the  modern  Arabs  _dhabb_. 
 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  TORTOISE,  n.  A  creature  thoughtfully  created  to  supply  occasion  for 
  the  following  lines  by  the  illustrious  Ambat  Delaso: 
 
  TO  MY  PET  TORTOISE 
 
  My  friend,  you  are  not  graceful  --  not  at  all 
  Your  gait's  between  a  stagger  and  a  sprawl. 
 
  Nor  are  you  beautiful:  your  head's  a  snake's 
  To  look  at  and  I  do  not  doubt  it  aches. 
 
  As  to  your  feet,  they'd  make  an  angel  weep. 
  'Tis  true  you  take  them  in  whene'er  you  sleep. 
 
  No  you're  not  pretty,  but  you  have  I  own 
  A  certain  firmness  --  mostly  you're  [sic]  backbone. 
 
  Firmness  and  strength  (you  have  a  giant's  thews) 
  Are  virtues  that  the  great  know  how  to  use  -- 
 
  I  wish  that  they  did  not  yet  on  the  whole, 
  You  lack  --  excuse  my  mentioning  it  --  Soul. 
 
  So  to  be  candid,  unreserved  and  true, 
  I'd  rather  you  were  I  than  I  were  you 
 
  Perhaps,  however,  in  a  time  to  be 
  When  Man's  extinct,  a  better  world  may  see 
 
  Your  progeny  in  power  and  control, 
  Due  to  the  genesis  and  growth  of  Soul. 
 
  So  I  salute  you  as  a  reptile  grand 
  Predestined  to  regenerate  the  land. 
 
  Father  of  Possibilities,  O  deign 
  To  accept  the  homage  of  a  dying  reign! 
 
  In  the  far  region  of  the  unforeknown 
  I  dream  a  tortoise  upon  every  throne. 
 
  I  see  an  Emperor  his  head  withdraw 
  Into  his  carapace  for  fear  of  Law; 
 
  A  King  who  carries  something  else  than  fat, 
  Howe'er  acceptably  he  carries  that 
 
  A  President  not  strenuously  bent 
  On  punishment  of  audible  dissent  -- 
 
  Who  never  shot  (it  were  a  vain  attack) 
  An  armed  or  unarmed  tortoise  in  the  back 
 
  Subject  and  citizens  that  feel  no  need 
  To  make  the  March  of  Mind  a  wild  stampede; 
 
  All  progress  slow,  contemplative,  sedate, 
  And  "Take  your  time"  the  word  in  Church  and  State. 
 
  O  Tortoise,  'tis  a  happy,  happy  dream, 
  My  glorious  testudinous  regime! 
 
  I  wish  in  Eden  you'd  brought  this  about 
  By  slouching  in  and  chasing  Adam  out 
 
 




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