tortoise

• n. 龜，[脊椎] 烏龜（等於testudo）；遲緩的人

來自中古英語 tortuse,來自拉丁語 tortuca,烏龜，可能來自 tartaruchus,地獄的，詞源同 Tartarus, 塔耳塔洛斯，古希臘神話中的地獄，迷信說法，認為烏龜來自地獄。或來自拉丁語 tortus, 扭曲的，扭成一團的，詞源同 turn,torque.因烏龜腳趾的形狀而得名。拚寫可能受 porpoise 影 響而俗化。

tortoise

tortoise: see turtle

tortoise (n.)

1550s, altered (perhaps by influence of porpoise) from Middle English tortuse (late 15c.), tortuce (mid-15c.), tortuge (late 14c.), from Medieval Latin tortuca (mid-13c.), perhaps from Late Latin tartaruchus "of the underworld" (see Tartarus). Others propose a source in Latin tortus "twisted," based on the shape of the feet. The classical Latin word was testudo, from testa "shell." First record of tortoise shell as a pattern of markings is from 1782.

1. The tortoise wins the race while the hare is sleeping.

兔子正睡覺時,烏龜贏得了比賽.

來自《簡明英漢詞典》

2. Tortoise and Snake Hills face each other across the river.

龜蛇二山隔江相望.

來自《現代漢英綜合大詞典》

3. The tortoise crept along at an agonizingly slow speed.

烏龜以極其緩慢的速度爬行著.

來自《現代英漢綜合大詞典》

4. The elephant dwarfed the tortoise.

那隻烏龜跟那頭象相比就顯得很小.

來自《簡明英漢詞典》

5. The tortoise spends the winter months in hibernation.

烏龜在冬眠中度過寒冬季節.

來自《簡明英漢詞典》