- A genus of tortoises which formerly included a large
number of diverse forms, but is now restricted to certain terrestrial
species, such as the European land tortoise (Testudo Graeca) and the
gopher of the Southern United States. - A cover or screen which a body of troops formed with their
shields or targets, by holding them over their heads when standing
close to each other. This cover resembled the back of a tortoise, and
served to shelter the men from darts, stones, and other missiles. A
similar defense was sometimes formed of boards, and moved on wheels. - A kind of musical instrument. a species of lyre; -- so
called in allusion to the lyre of Mercury, fabled to have been made of
the shell of a tortoise.
Definition
[ n.]