| turps | Popular name for turpentine oil. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| turquois | <chemical> A hydrous phosphate of alumina containing a little copper; calaite. It has a blue, or bluish green, colour, and usually occurs in reniform masses with a botryoidal surface. [Formerly written also turcois, and turkois. Turquoise is susceptible of a high polish, and when of a bright blue colour is much esteemed as a gem. The finest specimens come from Persia. It is also found in new Mexico and Arizona, and is regarded as identical with the chalchihuitl of the Mexicans. Origin: F. Turquoise; cf. Pr. & Sp. Turquesa, It. Turchese, turchina, LL. Turchesius, turchina; so called because first brought from Turkey. See 1st Turkey. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| turrel | A certain tool used by coopers. Origin: Cf. OF. Touroul a little wooden instrument to fasten doors or windows. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| turreted | 1. <zoology> Furnished with a turret or turrets; specifically, having the whorls somewhat flattened on the upper side and often ornamented by spines or tubercles; said of certain spiral shells. 2. Formed like a tower; as, a turreted lamp. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| turricephaly | Synonym: oxycephaly. Origin: L. Turris, tower, + G. Kephale, head (05 Mar 2000) |
| turrilite | <paleontology> Any fossil ammonite of the genus Turrilites. The shell forms an open spiral with the later whorls separate. Origin: L. Turris tower + Gr. Stone: cf. F. Turrilite. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| turritella | <zoology> Any spiral marine gastropod belonging to Turritella and allied genera. These mollusks have an elongated, turreted shell, composed of many whorls. They have a rounded aperture, and a horny multispiral operculum. Origin: NL, dim fr. L. Turris tower. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| turritelloid | <zoology> Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the turritellas. Origin: Turritella. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| turtle | <zoology> The turtledove. Origin: AS. Turtle, L. Turtur; probably of imitative origin. Cf. Turtle the sea tortoise. 1. <zoology> Any one of the numerous species of Testudinata, especially a sea turtle, or chelonian. In the United States the land and fresh water tortoises are also called turtles. 2. The curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press. Alligator turtle, Box turtle, etc. See Alligator, Box, etc. Green turtle, a large, handsome cowrie (Cypraea testudinaria); the turtle-shell; so called because of its fancied resemblance to a tortoise in colour and form. <botany> Turtle grass, a marine plant (Thalassia testudinum) with grasslike leaves, common about the West Indies. Turtle shell, tortoise shell. See Tortoise. Origin: Probably the same word as the word preceding, and substituted (probably by sailors) for the Spanish or Portuguese name; cf. Sp. Tortuga tortoise, turtle, Pg. Tartaruga, also F. Tortue, and E. Tortoise. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| turtledove | 1. <zoology> Any one of numerous species of pigeons belonging to Turtur and allied genera, native of various parts of the Old World; especially, the common European species (Turtur vulgaris), which is noted for its plaintive note, affectionate disposition, and devotion to its mate. The South African turtledove (T. Albiventris), and the ashy turtledove of India (T. Rubicolus), are similar to the European species in their habits. 2. <zoology> Any one of several species of pigeons more or less resembling the true turtledoves, as the American mourning dove (see under Dove), and the Australian turtledove (Stictopelia cuneata). The turtledove of the Scriptures is probably Turtur risorius, a species which is still plentiful in Egypt and other Eastern countries. It is closely allied to the European turtledove. See: 1ts Turtle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| turtlehead | <botany> An American perennial herb (Chelone glabra) having white flowers shaped like the head of a turtle. Synonym: snakehead, shell flower, and balmony. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| turunda | A surgical tent, gauze drain, or tampon. Origin: L. (05 Mar 2000) |