tortoise

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
tortoise /ˈtɔːtəs, -tɔɪz/

▶noun

• 1 a slow-moving land reptile of warm climates, enclosed in a scaly or leathery domed shell into which it can retract its head and legs. [Family Testudinidae: many species.]

• 2 a testudo.

– origin ME tortu, tortuce: from OFr. tortue and Sp. tortuga, both from med. L. tortuca, of uncertain origin.