testudo
Americannoun
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(among the ancient Romans) a movable shelter with a strong and usually fireproof arched roof, used for protection of soldiers in siege operations.
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a shelter formed by overlapping oblong shields, held by soldiers above their heads.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of testudo
1350–1400 for earlier sense “tumor”; 1600–10 testudo for def. 1; Middle English < Latin testūdō tortoise, tortoise shell, siege engine; akin to test 2
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.
It's a case for the testudo and all the rest of it.
From Mr. Justice Raffles by Hornung, E. W. (Ernest William)
The single round arch of this vestibule repeats the testudo of a Roman bath, and the decorative details are accurately reproduced from similar monuments.
From Renaissance in Italy Volume 3 The Fine Arts by Symonds, John Addington
The name Testudinea, from Latin testudo, a tortoise, is an appropriate one, as when held up to the light this Cominella looks like tortoise-shell.
From Beautiful Shells of New Zealand An Illustrated Work for Amateur Collectors of New Zealand Marine Shells, with Directions for Collecting and Cleaning them by Moss, E. G. B.
The testudo, a wooden shelter, was also used, large enough to contain several men.
From Beacon Lights of History, Volume 03 Ancient Achievements by Lord, John
A signal being given at break of day, their entire multitude is marshalled in the forum; thence, after raising the shout and forming a testudo, they advance to the attack.
From The History of Rome, Books 01 to 08 by Livius, Titus
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
