turtle

plural turtles · alternative obsolete tortle

1. CanadaUSbiologyAny land, aquatic, or semi-aquatic reptile of the order Testudines, characterised by a protective shell enclosing its body. See also tortoise.

   A unique anti-aphrodisiac was the heart of a turtle carried in a wolf's skin. It prevented a person from ever being tempted amorously.

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 238

   Synonyms: birdling, shellpad, shield-toad

   1. AustraliaCanadaUKUSspecificallybiologyA marine reptile of that order.

      Synonyms: birdling, shellpad, shield-toad, sea turtle

2. Senses resembling a turtle in protection
   1. historicalgovernmentAn Ancient Roman attack method, where the shields held by the soldiers hide them, not only left, right, front and back, but also from above.

      Synonyms: testudo

3. Senses resembling a turtle in shape or movement
   1. computingA type of robot having a domed case (and so resembling the reptile), used in education, especially for making line drawings by means of a computer program.
   2. computingAn on-screen cursor that serves the same function as a turtle for drawing.

      Depending on which version of Logo you have, the turtle may look like an actual animal with a head and four legs or — as in Berkeley Logo — it may be represented as a triangle.

      1997, Brian Harvey, Computer Science Logo Style: Symbolic computing

   3. danceA breakdancing move consisting of a float during which the dancer's weight shifts from one hand to the other, producing rotation or a circular "walk".
   4. A position reminiscent of a turtle.

      2 more examples

      At home the child can have a simple horizontal bar on which he may swing by his hands. He may also use dumb-bells and clubs. A very valuable position is what may be called the "turtle position." The patient lies prone upon the face, with the arms extended, and with the head carried upward and backward as far as possible. This exercises strongly the muscles of the upper part of the spine

      1893, De Forrest Willard, M.D., “Lateral Curvature”, in The American Lancet, volume 17, page 210

      A front somersault as executed in the water is basically the same type of movement as that executed in tumbling activities. A front somersault can be executed with the body in a tuck (turtle position) or pike (knees straight, body bent at hips so feet are near head) position, in shallow or deep water, from a back or prone float position.

      1957, Doris Layson Bullock, “Skills in the Water”, in Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, volume 28, page 28

   5. governmentA position in which a person drops down all fours, limbs and chin tucked in, to protect their core.
   6. broadcastingA low stand for a lamp, etc.

      Alan Bermingham, Location Lighting for Television Using an appropriate turtle allows the full range of pan and tilt adjustments on the luminaire and avoids possible heat damage to floor coverings.

   7. genericized trademarkA candy with pecans, caramel, and chocolate, often shaped like a turtle.
   8. historicalmediaThe curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press.
4. Senses resembling a turtle in slowness
   1. computingA small element towards the end of a list of items to be bubble sorted, and thus tending to take a long time to be swapped into its correct position.

present singular third person turtles · participle present turtling · participle past turtled · past turtled · alternative obsolete tortle

1. intransitiveTo flip over onto the back or top; to turn upside down.

   Were speeding when car turtled […] Auto crashed into curb and turtled.

   1919, Iowa Highway Commission, Service Bulletin, Issues 15-32, page 48

   1. intransitiveTo turn and swim upside down.

      I turtled my board beneath it, flipped upright, and started paddling again.

      2009, Amy Waeschle, Chasing Waves: A Surfer's Tale of Obsessive Wandering, page 149

   2. intransitivenauticalTo capsize, turning fully over.

      Synonyms: turn turtle

   3. intransitiveclimbingTo fall with one arm behind a rope, forcing the climber to dangle on their back, leaving them helpless.
2. intransitiveTo move along slowly.

   We turtled along in Manitoba, back into the heart of the prairies.

   2012, Sophie B. Watson, Cadillac Couches, page 193

3. intransitiveTo hunt turtles, especially in the water.

   Of these, 80 turtled (65%), 26 hunted and turtled (20%), and 18 hunted (15%).

   1973, Bernard Nietschmann, Between Land and Water: The Subsistence Ecology of the Miskito Indians, page 153

4. intransitiveboard gamesvideo gamesTo build up a large defense force and strike only occasionally, rather than going for an offensive strategy.
5. abbreviationellipsiseuphemisticidiomaticintransitiveslangEllipsis of turtle head (“to struggle to hold back an imminent bowel movement”).

   Synonyms: prairie dog, crown, grow a tail

plural turtles

1. archaicintransitiveA turtle dove.

   The same he tooke, and with a riband new, / In which his Ladies colours were, did bind / About the turtles neck […].

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   1 more example

   As the turtle, every day has been a black day with her since her husband died, and what should we unruly members make here?

   1613, John Marston, William Barksted, The Insatiate Countess, I.1

plural turtles

1. intransitiveA turtle-neck garment.

1. A river in Saskatchewan, Canada.
2. An extinct town in Dent County, Missouri, United States.
3. A town in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States.
4. A surname, thought to be derived from the turtle dove.

plural Turtles

1. A member of the Ancient and Honorable Order of Turtles, a drinking club.