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tortoiseshell

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.04 sec.
tor·toise·shell also tor·toise-shell or tor·toise shell  (tôrts-shl)
n.
1.
a. The mottled, horny, translucent, brownish covering of the carapace of certain tortoises or turtles, especially the hawksbill, used to make combs, jewelry, and other articles.
b. A synthetic imitation of natural tortoiseshell.
2. See hawksbill.
3. A domestic cat having fur with brown, black, and yellowish markings.
4. Any of several butterflies, chiefly of the genus Nymphalis, having wings with orange, black, and brown markings.

tortoise·shell adj.

tortoiseshell [ˈtɔːtəsˌʃɛl]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) 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.
2. a similar synthetic substance, esp plastic or celluloid, now more widely used than the natural product
3. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Breeds) a breed of domestic cat, usually female, having black, cream, and brownish markings
4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of several nymphalid butterflies of the genus Nymphalis, and related genera, having orange-brown wings with black markings
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals)
tortoiseshell turtle another name for hawksbill turtle
6. (Fine Arts & Visual Arts / Colours)
a.  a yellowish-brown mottled colour
b.  (as adjective) a tortoiseshell décor
7. (modifier) made of tortoiseshell a tortoiseshell comb
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.tortoiseshelltortoiseshell - the mottled horny substance of the shell of some turtles
horn - the material (mostly keratin) that covers the horns of ungulates and forms hooves and claws and nails
2.tortoiseshelltortoiseshell - brilliantly colored; larvae feed on nettles
brush-footed butterfly, four-footed butterfly, nymphalid, nymphalid butterfly - medium to large butterflies found worldwide typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast
genus Nymphalis, Nymphalis - type genus of the Nymphalidae: mourning cloak butterflies
3.tortoiseshelltortoiseshell - a cat having black and cream-colored and yellowish markings
domestic cat, Felis catus, Felis domesticus, house cat - any domesticated member of the genus Felis
Translations
tortoiseshell [ˈtɔːtəsʃel]
A. N
1. (= shell) → carey m, concha f
2. (= cat) → gato m pardo
3. (= butterfly) → ortiguera f
B. CPD [box, ornament] → de carey, de concha
tortoiseshell glasses NPLgafas fpl de carey
tortoiseshell [ˈtɔːrtəsʃɛl] adj [brooch, comb, spectacles] → en écaille
tortoiseshell cat nchat m écaille et blanc
tortoiseshell
n
Schildpatt m; (esp for spectacle frames) → Horn nt
(also tortoiseshell cat)Schildpattkatze f
tortoiseshell [ˈtɔːtəsˌʃɛl]
1. nguscio di tartaruga
2. adjdi tartaruga

tortoiseshell [ˈtɔːtəsˌʃɛl]
1. nguscio di tartaruga
2. adjdi tartaruga


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A tall young man, with light hair, clear gray eyes, and thin and compressed lips, dressed in a blue coat with beautifully carved gold buttons, a white neckcloth, and a tortoiseshell eye-glass suspended by a silken thread, and which, by an effort of the superciliary and zygomatic muscles, he fixed in his eye, entered, with a half-official air, without smiling or speaking.
That jewelled ornament, which I remember often telling Rita was of a very Philistinish conception (it was in some way connected with a tortoiseshell comb) occupied an undue place in my memory, tried to come into some sort of significance even in my sleep.
Mercy took an instantaneous dislike to this hobbling, ugly old man, staring at her rudely through his great tortoiseshell spectacles.
 
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