tortoiseshell

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.

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tortoise·shell adj.

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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

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	tortoiseshell - 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.	tortoiseshell - brilliantly colored; larvae feed on nettles tortoiseshell butterfly 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.	tortoiseshell - a cat having black and cream-colored and yellowish markings calico cat, tortoiseshell-cat 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 NPL → gafas fpl de carey

tortoiseshell [ˈtɔː^rtəsʃɛl] adj [brooch, comb, spectacles] → en écaille
tortoiseshell cat n → chat m écaille et blanc

tortoiseshell

n

→ Schildpatt m; (esp for spectacle frames) → Horn nt

(also tortoiseshell cat) → Schildpattkatze f

tortoiseshell [ˈtɔːtəsˌʃɛl]

1. n → guscio di tartaruga

2. adj → di tartaruga