Dictionary

terrapin en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈtɛɚpɪn/ (Southern-US)
• /ˈtæɹəˌpɪn/ (Southern-US)
• /ˈtɑɹpɪn/ (Southern-US)
• /-ən/ (Southern-US)
• /ˈtɛɹəˌpɪn/ (General-American)
• /ˈtɛɹəpɪn/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From torup (“snapping turtle native to North America, especially the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)”) or from its etymon Powhatan *tōrəp (“sea turtle”) + possibly English -ine (suffix forming derivative or diminutive nouns), perhaps influenced by Latin terra (“dry land; soil; planet Earth”). Cognate with Abenaki tolba (“turtle”), Penobscot dolba and Unami (pisëla)tulpe (“soft-shelled turtle”).

Meanings

1. (countable) Any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae found throughout the world.
2. (countable, obsolete) Any turtle.
   • The land-turtle, or terrapin, is much better known at Nice, as being a native of this county; yet the beſt are brought from the iſland of Sardinia. The ſoup or bouillon of this animal is always preſcribed here as a great reſtorative to conſumptive patients. 1766, T[obias] Smollett, “Letter XIX”, in Travels through France and Italy. […], volume I, London: […] R[oberts] Baldwin, […], →OCLC, page 302:
   • The third ſervice was made up of a loin of freſh pork with apple-ſauce, a kid ſmothered with onions, and a terrapin baked in the ſhell; […] 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, “He is Found by the Lieutenant; Reconducted to His Own House; Married to Mrs. Grizzle, […]”, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC, page 27, column 2:
   • The ancient whale-cry [i.e., "town-ho"] upon first sighting a whale from the masthead, still used by whalemen in hunting the famous Gallipagos terrapin. 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “The Town-ho’s Story (as Told at the Golden Inn)”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, footnote, page 269:
3. (countable, obsolete) Any of several small turtles native to North America that live in brackish or fresh water, especially the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin).
   • As to the terrapin, I have not so much to say. The terrapin is a small turtle, found on the shores of Maryland and Virginia, out of which a very rich soup is made. It is cooked with wines and spices, and is served in the shape of a hash, with heaps of little bones mixed through it. […] I must, however, confess that the terrapin for me had no surpassing charms. 1862, Anthony Trollope, “From Boston to Washington”, in North America. […], volume I, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 467:
4. (obsolete, uncountable) The flesh of such a turtle used as food.
   • The man who did not eat twice of terrapin would be held in small repute, as the Londoner is held who at a city banquet does not partake of both thick and thin turtle. 1862, Anthony Trollope, “From Boston to Washington”, in North America. […], volume I, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 467:

Forms

Deriveds

terrapin fork · diamondback terrapin · salt-marsh terrapin · red-eared terrapin · Mobile terrapin · terrapin à la Maryland

Translations (29)

ga tiripín (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · vi rùa đầm (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · pl terapena (any of several small turtles native to North America that live in brackish or fresh water) · chr ᏓᎩᏏ (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · cs želva (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · cs želva (any of several small turtles native to North America that live in brackish or fresh water) · nl specifically the genus doosschildpad (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · ar رَقّ (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · nn sumpskjelpadde (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · fi suokilpikonna (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · nl moerasschildpad (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · da sumpskildpadde (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · ml ആമ (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · cho luksi (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · cmn 水龜 /水龟 (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · ar حَمَسَة (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · chr ᏓᎦᏏ (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · vi rùa ao (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · ja キスイガメ (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · nb sumpskilpadde (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · es terrapene (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · it emide (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · ms labi-labi (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · bg сладководна костенурка (any of several small turtles native to North America that live in brackish or fresh water) · pt cágado (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · ast galápagu (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · fr tortue aquatique (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae) · pt cágado (any of several small turtles native to North America that live in brackish or fresh water) · pt terrapin (any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae)