n. [ OE. tortuce, fr. OF. tortis crooked, fr. L. tortus twisted, 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. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of reptiles of the order Testudinata. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Rom. Antiq.) Same as Testudo, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Box tortoise,
Land tortoise, etc. See under Box, Land, etc. --
Painted tortoise. (Zool.) See Painted turtle, under Painted. --
Soft-shell tortoise. (Zool.) See Trionyx. --
Spotted tortoise. (Zool.) A small American fresh-water tortoise (Chelopus guttatus or Nanemys guttatus) having a blackish carapace on which are scattered round yellow spots. --
Tortoise beetle (Zool.), any one of numerous species of small tortoise-shaped beetles. Many of them have a brilliant metallic luster. The larvae 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 (Zool.), any one of several species of handsomely colored butterflies of the genus Aglais, as Aglais Milberti, and Aglais urticae, both of which, in the larva state, feed upon nettles. --
Tortoise-shell turtle (Zool.), the hawkbill turtle. See Hawkbill. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Having a color like that of a tortoise's shell, black with white and orange spots; -- used mostly to describe cats of that color. n. a tortoise-shell cat.