Defn: An order of reptiles which includes the turtles and tortoises. The body is covered by a shell consisting of an upper or dorsal shell, called the carapace, and a lower or ventral shell, called the plastron, each of which consists of several plates.
TESTUDINATE; TESTUDINATED Tes*tu"di*nate, Tes*tu"di*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. testudinatus, fr. testudo, -inis, a tortoise, an arch or vault.]
Defn: Resembling a tortoise shell in appearance or structure; roofed; arched; vaulted.
TESTUDINEOUS
Tes`tu*din"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. testudineus.]
Defn: Resembling the shell of a tortoise.
TESTUDO Tes*tu"do, n.; pl. Testudines. Etym: [L., from testa the shell of shellfish, or of testaceous animals.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of tortoises which formerly included a large number of diverse forms, but is now restricted to certain terrestrial species, such as the European land tortoise (Testudo Græca) and the gopher of the Southern United States.
2. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A cover or screen which a body of troops formed with their shields or targets, by holding them over their heads when standing close to each other. This cover resembled the back of a tortoise, and served to shelter the men from darts, stones, and other missiles. A similar defense was sometimes formed of boards, and moved on wheels.