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testūdo , ĭnis, f. testa,
I.a tortoise.
I. Lit., Pac. ap. Cic. Div. 2, 64, 133; Plin. 9, 10, 12, § 35; 32, 4, 14, § 32; Cic. N. D. 2, 48, 124; 2, 52, 129; Liv. 36, 32, 6; Sen. Ep. 121, 9; Phaedr. 2, 6, 5 al.—Prov.: “testudo volat, of any thing impossible,” Claud. in Eutr. 1, 352.—
II. Transf., tortoise-shell.
A. Used for overlaying or veneering, Cic. N. D. 2, 57, 144; Verg. G. 2, 463; Ov. M. 2, 737; Mart. 12, 66, 5; Luc. 10, 120; Juv. 14, 308. —
B. From the arched shape of a tortoise-shell.
1. Of any stringed instrument of music of an arched shape, a lyre, lute, cithern, Verg. G. 4, 464; Hor. C. 3, 11, 3; 4, 3, 17; id. Epod. 14, 11; id. A. P. 395; Val. Fl. 1, 187; 1, 277. —
2. An arch, vault in buildings (syn.: “fornix, camera),” Varr. L. L. 5, §§ 79 and 161 Müll.; id. R. R. 3, 5, 1; 3, 6, 4; Cic. Brut. 22, 87; Sisenn. ap. Non. 58, 16; Verg. A. 1, 505. —
3. In milit. lang., a tortoise, i. e. a covering, shed, shelter so called (cf.: vinea, pluteus), viz.,
a. Made of wood, for the protection of besiegers, Caes. B. G. 5, 43; 5, 52; Vitr. 10, 19 sq. —
b. Formed of the shields of the soldiers held over their heads, Liv. 34, 39, 6; 44, 9, 6; Caes. B. G. 2, 6; Tac. A. 13, 39; id. H. 3, 31; 3, 27; 4, 23; Verg. A. 9, 505; 9, 514 al. —
4. The covering of the hedgehog, Mart. 13, 86, 1. —
5. A head-dress in imitation of a lyre, Ov. A. A. 3, 147.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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hide References (23 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (23):
    • Caesar, Gallic War, 2.6
    • Caesar, Gallic War, 5.43
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 2.737
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 1.505
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 9.505
    • Vergil, Georgics, 2.463
    • Vergil, Georgics, 4.464
    • Horace, Ars Poetica, 395
    • Tacitus, Annales, 13.39
    • Tacitus, Historiae, 3.31
    • Lucan, Civil War, 10.120
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 32.32
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 9.35
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 36, 32
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 44, 9
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 34, 39.6
    • Cicero, De Divinatione, 2.64
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 2.48
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 2.57
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 1.187
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 1.277
    • Seneca, Epistulae, 121.9
    • Cicero, Brutus, 22.87
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