See Also: turtle(encyclopedia)
Little Turtle(encyclopedia)
turtle(2)(dictionary)
turtle(1)(dictionary)
sea turtle(medicine)
Turtle(medicine)
turtle(dictionary)
box turtle(encyclopedia)
Green Turtle Cay(tourism)
Myrtle the Turtle(recipes)

turtle(1) (iou)



turtle noun1 & verb1.
[Old English turtla, turtle = Old High German turtulo, -ula; Old English also turtur partly from Old French turtre or Old Norse turturi; all from Latin turtur of imit. origin: for change of r to l cf. PURPLE adjective & noun.]
A. noun.
= TURTLE-DOVE 1. arch. rare. OE.
SEA turtle.
Bible (Coverdale): Song of Solomon 11:12 The voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
= TURTLE-DOVE 2. arch. rare. LME.
= TURTLE-DOVE 3. Usu. in pl. rhyming slang. L19.
B. verb intrans. & trans. (with it). Behave fondly and amorously. E-M18.
Also turtur noun OE-M17.