tortoise

• n. 龟，[脊椎] 乌龟（等于testudo）；迟缓的人

来自中古英语 tortuse,来自拉丁语 tortuca,乌龟，可能来自 tartaruchus,地狱的，词源同 Tartarus, 塔耳塔洛斯，古希腊神话中的地狱，迷信说法，认为乌龟来自地狱。或来自拉丁语 tortus, 扭曲的，扭成一团的，词源同 turn,torque.因乌龟脚趾的形状而得名。拼写可能受 porpoise 影 响而俗化。

tortoise

tortoise: see turtle

tortoise (n.)

1550s, altered (perhaps by influence of porpoise) from Middle English tortuse (late 15c.), tortuce (mid-15c.), tortuge (late 14c.), from Medieval Latin tortuca (mid-13c.), perhaps from Late Latin tartaruchus "of the underworld" (see Tartarus). Others propose a source in Latin tortus "twisted," based on the shape of the feet. The classical Latin word was testudo, from testa "shell." First record of tortoise shell as a pattern of markings is from 1782.

来自《简明英汉词典》

2. Tortoise and Snake Hills face each other across the river.

龟蛇二山隔江相望.

来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3. The tortoise crept along at an agonizingly slow speed.

乌龟以极其缓慢的速度爬行着.

来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4. The elephant dwarfed the tortoise.

那只乌龟跟那头象相比就显得很小.

来自《简明英汉词典》

5. The tortoise spends the winter months in hibernation.

乌龟在冬眠中度过寒冬季节.

来自《简明英汉词典》