turtle
/ˈtɜːrtəl/
noun
Origin
Latin
tortuca — tortoise
Overview
Meaning Now
- A reptile of the order Testudines, having a toothless beak and a protective shell into which its head and limbs can be withdrawn.
Language path
Latin → Middle English → English
Earliest form
turtle
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term 'turtle' in English originally referred to the 'turtle-dove' (a type of pigeon, from Old French 'tortre'). When English-speaking sailors encountered sea tortoises in the Caribbean in the 17th century, they adapted the existing word 'tortuca' (from Spanish/Portuguese) into 'turtle' due to the phonetic similarity to the bird name.
Evolution
- Latin
tortuca
“tortoise”
Derived from tortus (twisted), referring to the animal's twisted feet.
- Early Modern English
turtle
“sea turtle”
Adapted from tortuca, likely influenced by the word 'turtle-dove'.
Connections
Word parts
turtle
root
reptile with a shell
Related across languages
Spanish
tortuga
tortoise/turtle
French
tortue
turtle
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.