tortoiseshell

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable, usually) The horny, translucent, mottled covering of the carapace of the hawksbill turtle, used as a veneer etc.
2. (uncountable, usually) The hawksbill turtle.
3. (uncountable, usually) A domestic cat (or a rabbit, guinea-pig, etc.) whose fur has black, brown and yellow markings.
4. (uncountable, usually) Any of several butterflies, mostly of the genera Nymphalis and Aglais that have similar markings.

Adj

1. (not-comparable) Made of the covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle.
2. (not-comparable) Having markings resembling covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle.

Synonyms

tortoiseshell butterfly

calico cat

tortoiseshell-cat

carapace

tortoise shell

Translations

carey

Schildpatt

tartaruga

🐢

kaplumbağa kabuğu

ταρταρούγα

écaille

عظم ظهر السّلحفاة

tartaruga

🐢

guscio di tartaruga

concha de carey

çilli evcil kedi

carei

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtɔː(ɹ)tə.ˌʃɛl/

Etymology

From tortoise + shell.