leatherback turtle

[leth -er-bak]

noun

a sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, having the shell embedded in a leathery skin, reaching a length of more than 7 feet (2.1 meter) and a weight of more than 1000 pounds (450 kg): the largest living sea turtle; an endangered species.

Origin of leatherback turtle

First recorded in 1875–80; leather + back¹

Also called leath·er·back.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018