tortoiseshell

[ tawr-tuhs-shel ]

/ ˈtɔr təsˌʃɛl /

noun Also tortoise shell .

a horny substance of a mottled brown and yellow coloration, composing the laminae that cover the inner body plates of the carapace of certain tortoises or turtles, especially the hawksbill, used for making combs and ornamental articles, inlaying, etc.

any synthetic substance made to look like natural tortoiseshell.

Also tortoiseshell butterfly . any of several nymphalid butterflies of the genus Nymphalis, as N. californica, having variegated markings of red, yellow, or orange on the wings.

adjective Also tortoise-shell .

mottled or variegated like tortoiseshell, especially with yellow and brown and sometimes other colors.

made of tortoiseshell.

Origin of tortoiseshell

First recorded in 1595–1605; tortoise + shell

Words nearby tortoiseshell

tortoise, tortoise beetle, tortoise brooch, tortoise-core, tortoise plant, tortoiseshell, tortoiseshell cat, tortoiseshell turtle, Tortola, tortoni, tortricid

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for tortoiseshell

He had long hair, done up on his head like a woman's and held in place by a tortoiseshell comb.
The Enemies of Women|Vicente Blasco Ibez
These decorations and designs are inlaid work in tortoiseshell, ivory, ebony, mother-of-pearl and silver.
The Violoncello and Its History|Wilhelm Joseph von Wasielewski
In the earliest period any bones of animals (especially shoulder-bones) were used; later only tortoiseshell.
A history of China., [3d ed. rev. and enl.]|Wolfram Eberhard
The Indian tortoiseshell is thick and opaque and unequal, demanding preparation and welding.
Intarsia and Marquetry|F. Hamilton Jackson

Boule or Premire partie is a metal inlay, usually brass, applied to a tortoiseshell background.
Chats on Old Furniture|Arthur Hayden

British Dictionary definitions for tortoiseshell

tortoiseshell

/ (ˈtɔːtəsˌʃɛl) /

noun

a horny translucent yellow-and-brown mottled substance obtained from the outer layer of the shell of the hawksbill turtle: used for making ornaments, jewellery, etc

a similar synthetic substance, esp plastic or celluloid, now more widely used than the natural product

a breed of domestic cat, usually female, having black, cream, and brownish markings

any of several nymphalid butterflies of the genus Nymphalis, and related genera, having orange-brown wings with black markings

tortoiseshell turtle another name for hawksbill turtle

a yellowish-brown mottled colour
(as adjective)a tortoiseshell décor

(modifier) made of tortoiseshella tortoiseshell comb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

单词	tortoiseshell
释义	tortoiseshell [ tawr-tuhs-shel ] / ˈtɔr təsˌʃɛl / noun Also tortoise shell . a horny substance of a mottled brown and yellow coloration, composing the laminae that cover the inner body plates of the carapace of certain tortoises or turtles, especially the hawksbill, used for making combs and ornamental articles, inlaying, etc. any synthetic substance made to look like natural tortoiseshell. Also tortoiseshell butterfly . any of several nymphalid butterflies of the genus Nymphalis, as N. californica, having variegated markings of red, yellow, or orange on the wings. adjective Also tortoise-shell . mottled or variegated like tortoiseshell, especially with yellow and brown and sometimes other colors. made of tortoiseshell. Origin of tortoiseshell First recorded in 1595–1605; tortoise + shell Words nearby tortoiseshell tortoise, tortoise beetle, tortoise brooch, tortoise-core, tortoise plant, tortoiseshell, tortoiseshell cat, tortoiseshell turtle, Tortola, tortoni, tortricid Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for tortoiseshell He had long hair, done up on his head like a woman's and held in place by a tortoiseshell comb. The Enemies of Women\|Vicente Blasco Ibez These decorations and designs are inlaid work in tortoiseshell, ivory, ebony, mother-of-pearl and silver. The Violoncello and Its History\|Wilhelm Joseph von Wasielewski In the earliest period any bones of animals (especially shoulder-bones) were used; later only tortoiseshell. A history of China., [3d ed. rev. and enl.]\|Wolfram Eberhard The Indian tortoiseshell is thick and opaque and unequal, demanding preparation and welding. Intarsia and Marquetry\|F. Hamilton Jackson Boule or Premire partie is a metal inlay, usually brass, applied to a tortoiseshell background. Chats on Old Furniture\|Arthur Hayden British Dictionary definitions for tortoiseshell tortoiseshell / (ˈtɔːtəsˌʃɛl) / noun a horny translucent yellow-and-brown mottled substance obtained from the outer layer of the shell of the hawksbill turtle: used for making ornaments, jewellery, etc a similar synthetic substance, esp plastic or celluloid, now more widely used than the natural product a breed of domestic cat, usually female, having black, cream, and brownish markings any of several nymphalid butterflies of the genus Nymphalis, and related genera, having orange-brown wings with black markings tortoiseshell turtle another name for hawksbill turtle a yellowish-brown mottled colour (as adjective)a tortoiseshell décor (modifier) made of tortoiseshella tortoiseshell comb Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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