testudines

2 definitions found

testudines - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Testudo \Tes*tu"do\, n.; pl. Testudines. [L., from testa the
     shell of shellfish, or of testaceous animals.]
     1. (Zool.) 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 Graeca) and the gopher of the Southern
        United States.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Rom. Antiq.) 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Mus.) A kind of musical instrument. a species of lyre; --
        so called in allusion to the lyre of Mercury, fabled to
        have been made of the shell of a tortoise.
        [1913 Webster]

testudines - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Testudines
      n 1: tortoises and turtles [syn: Chelonia, order Chelonia,
           Testudinata, order Testudinata, Testudines, order Testudines
           ]