(tûr′təl) noun
1. Any of numerous reptiles (order Chelonia) having a horny, toothless beak, and characterized by a short, stout body covered above and below with a bony carapace and plastron respectively, into which all the members may be drawn for protection; a tortoise; specifically, a marine species as distinguished from a terrestrial or fresh–water species.
2. The flesh of certain varieties of turtle, served as food.
3. A stout frame in the form of a segment of a cylinder, used to hold the type in a type–revolving web press.
—green turtle An important food turtle (Chelonia mydas) of wide distribution in tropical and semitropical seas: so called from the greenish color of its flesh.
—to turn turtle To overturn; capsize.
—v.i. ·tled, ·tling To hunt for or catch turtles. [Appar. alter. of Sp. tortuga <Med. L tortuca TORTOISE; infl. in form by TURTLE²]
TURTLES
a. Wood turtle.
b. Emyd.
c. Trionychid.

(tûr′təl) noun Archaic
A turtle dove. [OE <L turtur]