terrapin

American  

[ter-uh-pin] / ˈtɛr ə pɪn /

noun

1. any of several edible North American turtles of the family Emydidae, inhabiting fresh or brackish waters, especially the diamondback terrapin: some are threatened or endangered.

2. any of various similar turtles.

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terrapin British  

/ ˈtɛrəpɪn /

noun

1. Also called: water tortoise.  any of various web-footed chelonian reptiles that live on land and in fresh water and feed on small aquatic animals: family Emydidae

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Etymology

Origin of terrapin

1605–15; earlier torope (< Virginia Algonquian < Eastern Algonquian *to·rəpe·w variety of turtle > Munsee Delaware tó·lpe·w ) + -in, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

It turned out to be a diamondback terrapin.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bonded by their love of chelonians — turtles, terrapins and tortoises — the two men began traveling the world together to research the reptiles.

From Los Angeles Times

Invited inside for a party, she helped her host cook a late-night meal of scrambled eggs and terrapin when the new president dropped by unannounced.

From Washington Post

Tulare Lake expanded each spring as rain and melting snow filled the valley, growing so large that fisherfolk could sail across its surface to catch terrapin for San Francisco restaurants.

From Salon

Researchers subjected the skeletal remains of pond sliders, diamondback terrapins, painted turtles and box turtles to incremental increases in mechanical forces and measured where and how the shells began to buckle.

From New York Times

Related Words

• tortoise