tortoiseshell

A noun referring to the mottled horny substance from the shell of certain turtles, or a cat with black, cream, and yellowish markings, or a brilliantly colored butterfly whose larvae feed on nettles.

• 🇫🇷Substantif désignant la matière cornée tachetée provenant de la carapace de certaines tortues, ou un chat au pelage noir, crème et fauve, ou un papillon aux couleurs vives dont les chenilles se nourrissent d'orties.

1. Mottled shell material B2 formal

   The hard, mottled brown and yellow material from the shell of certain sea turtles, historically used for decorative items like combs and jewelry.

   • The antique comb was made of genuine tortoiseshell.
   • Tortoiseshell was once highly prized for its beautiful patterns.
   • Modern products use synthetic materials to imitate tortoiseshell.

   🇫🇷Écaille de tortue

2. Butterfly species B2 formal scientific

   A brightly colored butterfly with black and orange markings, whose larvae feed on nettles.

   • A tortoiseshell butterfly landed on the flower.
   • The garden was full of tortoiseshell butterflies in the summer.
   • Tortoiseshell caterpillars are often found on nettle plants.

   🇫🇷Vanesse

3. Cat coat pattern A2 informal

   A coat pattern in cats characterized by a mix of black, cream, and yellowish-orange patches.

   • My tortoiseshell cat has a beautiful mix of colors.
   • Tortoiseshell cats are almost always female.
   • She adopted a stray tortoiseshell kitten from the shelter.

   🇫🇷robe écaille de tortue

• tortoiseshells plural form
• tortoiseshells' possessive plural form
• tortoiseshell's possessive singular form