box turtle

noun

1. any of several chiefly terrestrial turtles of the genus Terrapene, of North America, having a hinged plastron that can be tightly shut to enclose and protect the body.

Word History and Origins

Origin of box turtle¹

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Natural history of the ornate box turtle, Terrapeneornata ornata Agassiz.

From Project Gutenberg

Silent—so long that a box turtle placed a blundering claw on his shoe before it understood that Reuben was no rock.

From Project Gutenberg

Natural history of the ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata Agassiz.

From Project Gutenberg

Wear on the shell of a box turtle reduces the thickness of scutes, as does the shedding of scutes in the aquatic emyids mentioned.

From Project Gutenberg

The plastron of a juvenal box turtle is not completely immovable.

From Project Gutenberg