giant tortoise

American  

noun

1. any of several large tortoises of the genus Geochelone, of the Galápagos Islands and islands near Madagascar: some are endangered.

---

giant tortoise British  

noun

1. any of various very large tortoises of the genus Testudo, of the Galápagos, Seychelles, and certain other islands, weighing up to 225 kilograms (495 lbs.)

---

Etymology

Origin of giant tortoise

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Oh, and the two giant tortoises out back.

From Los Angeles Times

A pair of critically endangered giant tortoises aged about 100 years old have become first-time parents at Philadelphia Zoo.

From BBC

A man has been served a court summons over the deaths of 10 giant tortoises found in Devon, police have said.

From BBC

About how many Hood Island giant tortoises were there in 1976?

From NewsForKids.net

They will also run tests to make sure it is really a Fernandina giant tortoise.

From NewsForKids.net