Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Any of various North American aquatic turtles of the family Emydiolae, especially the genus Malaclemys, which includes the diamondback terrapin.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. One of several different freshwater or tide-water tortoises of the family Emydidæ; specifically, in the United States, the diamond-back, Malaclemmys or Malacoclemmys palustris, of the Atlantic coast from New York to Texas, famous among epicures. See diamond-backed turtle (under diamond-backed), and Malaclemmys. In trade use the sexes are distinguished as bull and cow, and small ones as little bulls and heifers respectively. Those under 5 or 6 inches in total length of the under shell are termed cullings, of which it takes from 18 to 24 or more to make a “dozen.” Those of 6 inches and more are counts or counters, of 12 to the dozen. Only the cows reach 6½ to 7 inches in this measurement; these are known to dealers as full counts, and are especially valuable because they usually contain eggs; the bulls are tougher as well as smaller, and of less market value.
- n. Some other tortoise or turtle: as, the elephant terrapin of the Galapagos.
- n. A dish made of the diamond-back.
Wiktionary
- n. any of several North American turtles, of the family Emydidae, that live in fresh or brackish water
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. Any one of numerous species of tortoises living in fresh and brackish waters. Many of them are valued for food.
WordNet 3.0
- n. any of various edible North American web-footed turtles living in fresh or brackish water
Etymologies
- Alteration of torope, from Virginia Algonquian.
Examples
“In 1880, a Washington Post reporter called terrapin vital to any dinner party "laying claim to being a pretentious affair.”
The Huffington Post: Matthew Jacob: Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio and Turtle Soup?
“Oh dear dog, the idea of terrapin poo on KY's elegant 'do ....”
“Soon Jon-Tom and the terrapin were the only ones still playing.”
The Time of the Transference
“Some persons," wrote the Dutch traveller, Van der Donck, in 1656, "prepare delicious dishes from the water terrapin, which is luscious food.”
“The terrapin is a small turtle, found on the shores of Maryland and”
“A small tortoise, called a terrapin, [198] is taken in some rivers, creeks, and swampy grounds, and is used as an article of food.”
“In addition to the clean-cars standards, the Legislature approved a bill outlawing the trapping of the diamondback terrapin, which is the state reptile and official mascot of the University of Maryland.”
“I believe the little tortoise is call a terrapin or 'pik' in Hokkien.”
“Later spelled "terrapin," it meant the diamond-back, the esoteric little creature that spread the fame of the”
“* A local name for a kind of terrapin common in that section.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘terrapin’.
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Helen Edmundson's list
Helen's favourite and interesting words: please add yours!
susurrus, serendipity, slither, squishy, terrapin, delectable, ticklish, barracuda, tangled, resonance, spotted, florentine and 4 more...
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From the Algonquin et al.
Words derived from the innumerable languages of native Americans and the First Nations of Canada. I want to shine some light on this underexposed etymological background to so many common (and som...
raccoon, persimmon, mummichog, caucus, bayou, caribou, geoduck, chipmunk, skunk, opossum, moose, squash and 84 more...
madmouth Kuniyoshi's take Sep 21, 2009
sionnach 1 terrapin = 10^^12 pins. Feb 23, 2008