n. 1. a. The mottled, horny, translucent, brownish covering of the carapace of certain tortoises or turtles, especially the hawksbill, formerly widely used to make combs, jewelry, and other articles. b. A synthetic imitation of natural tortoiseshell. 2. See hawksbill. 3. A domestic cat having a coat with irregular patches of different colors, usually black and reddish-orange. 4. Any of several butterflies, chiefly of the genus Nymphalis, having wings with orange, black, and brown markings. tortoise-shell′ adj. |
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