tortoiseshell — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The horny, translucent, mottled covering of the carapace of the hawksbill turtle, used as a veneer etc.

   Usage

   • Uncountable
   • usually

2. The hawksbill turtle.

   Usage

   • Uncountable
   • usually

3. A domestic cat (or a rabbit, guinea-pig, etc.) whose fur has black, brown and yellow markings.

   Usage

   • Uncountable
   • usually

4. Any of several butterflies, mostly of the genera Nymphalis and Aglais that have similar markings.

   Usage

   • Uncountable
   • usually

   Examples

   Other common farmland butterflies to have suffered steep declines include the small tortoiseshell (64%), the wall brown (37%) and the large skipper (35%).

Adjective

1. Made of the covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

2. Having markings resembling covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   Speaking of round sunglasses, these lightweight polarized ones and come in two shades of tortoiseshell as well as black and bronze.

Noun

1. the mottled horny substance of the shell of some turtles

   Broader terms

   horn

2. brilliantly colored; larvae feed on nettles

   Synonyms

   tortoiseshell butterfly

   Broader terms

   nymphalidnymphalid butterflybrush-footed butterflyfour-footed butterfly

3. a cat having black and cream-colored and yellowish markings

   Synonyms

   tortoiseshell-catcalico cat

   Broader terms

   domestic cathouse catFelis domesticusFelis catus