Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of the numerous species of Testudinata,
especially a sea turtle, or chelonian.
Note: In the United States the land and fresh-water tortoises
are also called turtles.
2. (Printing) The curved plate in which the form is held in a
type-revolving cylinder press.
{Alligator turtle}, {Box turtle}, etc. See under {Alligator},
{Box}, etc.
{green turtle} (Zo["o]l.), 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 ({C. 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} (Zo["o]l.), a large, handsome cowrie
({Cypr[ae]a 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}.