Added 9 October 2026
turtle
/ˈtɜːtl̩/ noun
In Latin: testūdō Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about turtle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
verb
-
Overturn accidentally.
Don't rock the boat or it will capsize!
- Hunt for turtles, especially as an occupation.
Origin
Modification of Middle English tortou, tortu, from Old French tortüe (under the influence of Middle English turtel, turtur (“turtledove”), see Etymology 2 below), from Old Occitan tortuga (compare Spanish tortuga), the same source of tortoise (see there for more). Displaced native Old English byrdling (See birdling).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)