Turtle cowrie

Turtle Tur"tle, n. [Probably the same word as the word preceding, and substituted (probably by sailors) for the Spanish or Portuguese name; cf. Sp. tortuga tortoise, turtle, Pg. tartaruga, also F. tortue, and E. tortoise.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of the numerous species of Testudinata, especially a sea turtle, or chelonian. [1913 Webster]

Note: In the United States the land and fresh-water tortoises are also called turtles. [1913 Webster]

2. (Printing) The curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press. [1913 Webster]

{Alligator turtle}, {Box turtle}, etc. See under {Alligator}, {Box}, etc.

{green turtle} (Zo["o]l.), a marine turtle of the genus {Chelonia}, having usually a smooth greenish or olive-colored shell. It is highly valued for the delicacy of its flesh, which is used especially for turtle soup. Two distinct species or varieties are known; one of which ({Chelonia Midas}) inhabits the warm part of the Atlantic Ocean, and sometimes weighs eight hundred pounds or more; the other ({Chelonia virgata}) inhabits the Pacific Ocean. Both species are similar in habits and feed principally on seaweed and other marine plants, especially the turtle grass.

{Turtle cowrie} (Zo["o]l.), a large, handsome cowrie ({Cypr[ae]a testudinaria}); the turtle-shell; so called because of its fancied resemblance to a tortoise in color and form.

{Turtle grass} (Bot.), a marine plant ({Thalassia testudinum}) with grasslike leaves, common about the West Indies.

{Turtle shell}, tortoise shell. See under {Tortoise}. [1913 Webster]