Added 10 October 2026 tortoiseshell /ˈtɔː(ɹ)təˌʃɛl/ noun Categories: NatureAnimalsRare Words noun ! Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about tortoiseshell at Wordnik → Where our words come from → The horny, translucent, mottled covering of the carapace of the hawksbill turtle, used as a veneer etc. The hawksbill turtle. A domestic cat (or a rabbit, guinea-pig, etc.) whose fur has black, brown and yellow markings. adjective Made of the covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle. Having markings resembling covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle. Origin From tortoise + shell. From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA) Related Words: tortoiseshell-cathawkbillhawksbillrhamphothecachicken-turtleshellrhinotheca Back to today's word