shellpad

A turtle or tortoise.

Noun

  1. A turtle or tortoise.
    • Of other he was called shilpad, that is to say, shelt-toad; for that he, being a short grundy, and of little stature, did ride commonly with a great broad hat, as a churl of the country. - 1868, John Foxe, The Church...

Origin

From earlier shell padde, equivalent to shell + pad (“toad”). Compare Saterland Frisian Skildpudde (“turtle, tortoise”), West Frisian skyldpod (“tortoise”), Middle Dutch schildpadde (Dutch schildpad, Afrikaans skilpad), Middle Low German schildpadde, Danish skildpadde. See also shield-toad.

Forms

shell-pad shell padde shelpad shilpad shellpot

Derived

shell-paddock