testaceous

[te-stey-shuhs]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or derived from shells.

2. having a test or shell-like covering.

3. of a brick-red, brownish-red, or brownish-yellow color.

testaceous

/ tɛˈsteɪʃəs /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or possessing a test or testa

2. of the reddish-brown colour of terra cotta

Word History and Origins

Origin of testaceous¹

1640–50; < Latin testāceus shell-covered, equivalent to test ( a ) ( test ² ) + -āceus -aceous

Word History and Origins

Origin of testaceous¹

C17: from Latin testācens, from _testa

Example Sentences

English conchologists appear not to be aware of the vast number of testaceous animals which are now known.

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T. Wings angulated; anterior testaceous, with lineated brown shades and oblique lines; posterior yellow, with a broad black border.

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Notwithstanding all these absurdities, it is undoubtedly true that certain articles of food have been considered as endowed with aphrodisiac properties; fish of various kinds, the mollusca and testaceous animals more especially.

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Yet, whatever our island may have formerly produced, we discern no traces in later ages, of any testaceous animal yielding a purple or scarlet dye.

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One of these, then, was situated just outside the orangery; with groups of testaceous rocks forming a half-circle around its edge; and draped with the dark foliage of evergreen trees, of the species already mentioned.

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