turtle

turtle · noun, verb¹

1. Old Occitantortuga
2. Old Frenchtortüe
3. Middle Englishtortou
4. Middle Englishturtelinflu.
5. English todayturtle

Modification of Middle English tortou, tortu, from Old French tortüe (under the influence of Middle English turtel, turtur (“turtledove”), see Etymology 2 below), from Old Occitan tortuga (compare Spanish tortuga), the same source of tortoise (see there for more). Displaced native Old English byrdling (See birdling).

turtle · noun²

1. Latin · derived fromturtur“turtledove”
2. Old English · inherited fromturtle
3. Middle English · inherited fromturtle
4. English todayturtle

From Middle English turtle, tortle, turtel, turtul, from Old English turtle, turtla (“turtledove”), ultimately from Latin turtur (“turtledove”), of imitative origin.

turtle · noun³

Ellipsis of turtle-neck

Words from the same roots