testudo
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tes·tu·do
(tĕ-sto͞o′dō, -styo͞o′-)n. pl. tes·tu·dos
1. A Roman siege device consisting of a movable screen protecting the besiegers' approach to a wall.
2. A cover formed by the overlapping shields of besiegers and held over their heads.
[Latin testūdō, tortoise, tortoise shell, testudo, from testa, shell, earthenware vessel, of unknown origin.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
testudo
(tɛˈstjuːdəʊ)n, pl -dines (-dɪˌniːz)
(Arms & Armour (excluding Firearms)) a form of shelter used by the ancient Roman Army for protection against attack from above, consisting either of a mobile arched structure or of overlapping shields held by the soldiers over their heads
[C17: from Latin: a tortoise, from testa a shell]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
tes•tu•do
(tɛˈstu doʊ, -ˈstyu-)n., pl. tes•tu•di•nes (tɛˈstud nˌiz, -ˈstyud-)
(among the ancient Romans) a screen of interlocked shields held overhead by a column of troops.
[1600–10; < Latin testūdō tortoise, testudo; akin to test2]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Noun | 1. | testudo - a movable protective covering that provided protection from above; used by Roman troops when approaching the walls of a besieged fortification protective cover, protective covering, protection - a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury; "they had no protection from the fallout"; "wax provided protection for the floors" |
2. | Testudo - type genus of the Testudinidae reptile genus - a genus of reptiles family Testudinidae, Testudinidae - land tortoises European tortoise, Testudo graeca - small land tortoise of southern Europe giant tortoise - very large tortoises of the Galapagos and Seychelles islands |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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