tortoiseshell /ˈtɔː(ɹ)təˌʃɛl/noun 4adjective 2forms 1 noun4 •The horny, translucent, mottled covering of the carapace of the hawksbill turtle, used as a veneer etc. •A domestic cat (or a rabbit, guinea-pig, etc.) whose fur has black, brown and yellow markings. •Any of several butterflies, mostly of the genera Nymphalis and Aglais that have similar markings.Other common farmland butterflies to have suffered steep declines include the small tortoiseshell (64%), the wall brown (37%) and the large skipper (35%). — 2015 •The hawksbill turtle. adjective2 •Made of the covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle. •Having markings resembling covering of carapace of hawksbill turtle.Speaking of round sunglasses, these lightweight polarized ones and come in two shades of tortoiseshell as well as black and bronze. — 2023 formstortoiseshells
