TORTOISESHELL

Tortoiseshell

Tortoiseshell or tortoise shell is a material produced from the shells of the larger species of tortoise and turtle, mainly the hawksbill turtle, which is an endangered species largely because of its exploitation for the material. The large size, fine colour and unusual form of the hawksbill's scutes make it especially suitable. Tortoiseshell was widely used from ancient times in the West and in Asia, until the trade was finally banned in the 1970s. It was used, normally in thin slices or pieces, in the manufacture of a wide variety of items such as combs, small boxes and frames and inlays in furniture and other items, frames for spectacles, ...

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tortoise shell

Noun

  1. The shell of a tortoise, sometimes inaccurately the shell of a turtle, or that material.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: tortoise shell
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

tortoiseshell

Noun

  1. The horny, translucent, mottled covering of the carapace of the hawksbill turtle, used as a veneer etc.
  2. The hawksbill turtle.
  3. A domestic cat whose fur has black, brown and yellow markings.
  4. Any of several butterflies, mostly of the genus that have similar markings.

Adjective

  1. made of the covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle
  2. having markings resembling covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: tortoiseshell
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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