Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Tortoise-shell: especially, the darker and less richly mottled tortoise-shell used for inlaying in wood, etc.
  • noun In conchology, the turtle-cowry.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The turtle cowrie.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • His most prized possession was the handle of a china cup, which he suspended from a ring of turtle-shell, which, in turn, was passed through the partition-cartilage of his nose.

    MAUKI 2010

  • "The most playful-minded dog, without being silly, I ever saw," was Dag Daughtry's verdict to the Shortlands planter, to whom he had just sold one of his turtle-shell combs.

    CHAPTER VII 2010

  • Michael smiled with his eyes that he understood, and turned casually aside to investigate an open box on the floor which contained plates of turtle-shell, hack-saws, and emery paper.

    CHAPTER III 2010

  • TVGuide. com: How long did it take for you cross in the moat in that turtle-shell boat since we just saw you sinking repeatedly?

    Amazing Race's Ron and Tony: Getting Lost "Felt Like a Nightmare That Wouldn't End" 2010

  • Terrapin Trail wrote about this last week, noting that "the major difference appears to be a turtle-shell pattern on the jersey's side panels."

    Terps tweak their basketball uniforms Dan Steinberg 2010

  • Nose and ear ornaments of bone and turtle-shell he also rifled, as well as a chest-crescent of pearl shell, fourteen inches across, worth fifteen shillings anywhere.

    CHAPTER III 2010

  • Everything went that belonged to him, including the turtle-shell and the photographs and calendars on the wall.

    CHAPTER X 2010

  • He had farmed savages and savagery, and from fever and hardship, the crack of Sniders and the lash of the overseers, had wrested five millions of money in the form of beche-de-mer, sandalwood, pearl-shell and turtle-shell, ivory nuts and copra, grasslands, trading stations, and plantations.

    THE TERRIBLE SOLOMONS 2010

  • They wore nose-rings of clam-shell and turtle-shell, and from the ends of their noses which were also pierced, projected horns of beads strung on stiff wire.

    Chapter 1 2010

  • Anyhow who knows more about turtle-shell patterns, feel free to speak up.

    Terps tweak their basketball uniforms Dan Steinberg 2010

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