'Turtle cowrie' definitions:

Definition of 'Turtle cowrie'

From: GCIDE
  • Turtle \Tur"tle\, n. [Probably the same word as the word preceding, and substituted (probably by sailors) for the Spanish or Portuguese name; cf. Sp. tortuga tortoise, turtle, Pg. tartaruga, also F. tortue, and E. tortoise.] [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. (Zool.) Any one of the numerous species of Testudinata, especially a sea turtle, or chelonian. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: In the United States the land and fresh-water tortoises are also called turtles. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Printing) The curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press. [1913 Webster]
  • Alligator turtle, Box turtle, etc. See under Alligator, Box, etc.
  • green turtle (Zool.), a marine turtle of the genus Chelonia, having usually a smooth greenish or olive-colored shell. It is highly valued for the delicacy of its flesh, which is used especially for turtle soup. Two distinct species or varieties are known; one of which (Chelonia Midas) inhabits the warm part of the Atlantic Ocean, and sometimes weighs eight hundred pounds or more; the other (Chelonia virgata) inhabits the Pacific Ocean. Both species are similar in habits and feed principally on seaweed and other marine plants, especially the turtle grass.
  • Turtle cowrie (Zool.), a large, handsome cowrie ({Cypraea testudinaria}); the turtle-shell; so called because of its fancied resemblance to a tortoise in color and form.
  • Turtle grass (Bot.), a marine plant ({Thalassia testudinum}) with grasslike leaves, common about the West Indies.
  • Turtle shell, tortoise shell. See under Tortoise. [1913 Webster]