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box turtle

American  

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.


Etymology

Origin of box turtle

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Driving one afternoon, I come across a box turtle trying to cross the road.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

The eastern box turtle is also deemed vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2025

Its exhibit “The Woods” includes a three-toed box turtle, a western hognose snake and marine life native to Long Island Sound.

From New York Times ● Dec. 1, 2022

And with the help of a talking box turtle, she travels through time.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 21, 2022

It’s a turtle, box turtle, munching on old Whopper lettuce.

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli

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