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1tortoiseshell
noun tor·toise·shell \ˈtȯr-tə-ˌshel, -əsh-ˌshel\
: the usually brown and yellow shell of a turtle that is used to make decorations
: a cat with yellow, orange, white, and black fur
: a usually brown and orange butterfly
Full Definition of TORTOISESHELL
1
: the mottled horny substance of the shell of the hawksbill turtle used especially formerly in inlaying and in making various ornamental articles
2
: any of several showy nymphalid butterflies (genera Nymphalis and Aglais)
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First Known Use of TORTOISESHELL
1632
Rhymes with TORTOISESHELL
APL, Appenzell, aquarelle, asphodel, Azazel, bagatelle, barbicel, béchamel, brocatelle, Camberwell, caramel, caravel, carousel, cascabel, chanterelle, chaparral, Charles Martel, citadel, clientele, cockleshell, Cozumel, decibel, demoiselle, diving bell, fare-thee-well, fontanel, immortelle, Jezebel, killer cell, kiss-and-tell, lenticel, mangonel, muscatel, ne'er-do-well, Neuchâtel, Neufchâtel, New Rochelle, nonpareil, organelle, oversell, parallel, pedicel, pennoncel, personnel, petronel, Philomel, pimpernel, rebel yell, red blood cell, Sanctus bell, San Rafael, São Miguel, show-and-tell, sickle cell, silver bell, solar cell, undersell, villanelle, white blood cell, William Tell, zinfandel
2tortoiseshell
adjective
Definition of TORTOISESHELL
1
: made of or resembling tortoiseshell especially in mottled brown and yellow coloring <tortoiseshell glasses>
2
: of, relating to, or being a color pattern of the domestic cat consisting of patches of black, orange, and cream
First Known Use of TORTOISESHELL
1651
TORTOISESHELL Defined for Kids
tortoiseshell
noun tor·toise·shell \ˈtȯr-təs-ˌshel\
Definition of TORTOISESHELL for Kids
1
: a hard brown and yellow material that covers the shell of a sea tortoise used especially in the past for ornamental objects
2
: a brightly colored butterfly
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