tortoiseshell

1 of 2

noun

tor·​toise·​shell ˈtȯr-tə-ˌshel How to pronounce tortoiseshell (audio)
-əsh-ˌshel
1
: the mottled horny substance of the shell of the hawksbill turtle used especially formerly in inlaying and in making various ornamental articles
2
or tortoiseshell butterfly : any of several showy nymphalid butterflies (genera Nymphalis and Aglais) that have wings mottled with orange and brown or black

tortoiseshell

2 of 2

adjective

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

Examples of tortoiseshell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Korsgaard spots her first species, the small, brick-red, tortoiseshell, in early March on a meadow path near her home. — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026 Then add some tortoiseshell sunglasses to call back to the ankle boots, and tie it all together with a black shoulder bag. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Her tortoiseshell version appears to be one of the much more affordable plastic iterations—the kind that can still be found at any big-box store for less than $10. — Marci Robin, Allure, 5 Oct. 2026 The giraffe that had arrived a year earlier was presented to the emperor as a qilin, a mythological creature described as a cross between a deer and a unicorn, with a single horn and tortoiseshell coloring. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tortoiseshell

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tortoiseshell was in 1632

Phrases Containing tortoiseshell

Browse Nearby Words

tortoise scale
tortoiseshell
tortoiseshell cat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tortoiseshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tortoiseshell. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tortoiseshell

1 of 2 noun
tor·​toise·​shell ˈtȯrt-əs-ˌshel How to pronounce tortoiseshell (audio)
-əsh-ˌshel
1
: a spotted hornlike substance that covers the shell of some turtles and is used especially formerly to make ornamental objects
2
: any of several showy butterflies

tortoiseshell

2 of 2 adjective
1
: made of or resembling tortoiseshell especially in spotted brown and yellow coloring
2
: of, relating to, or being a color pattern of the domestic cat that consists of patches of black, orange, and light yellow

More from Merriam-Webster on tortoiseshell

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tortoiseshell

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