What is "box turtle"

Turtle \Tur"tle\, n. [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.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of the numerous species of Testudinata, especially a sea turtle, or chelonian.

   Note: In the United States the land and fresh-water tortoises are also called turtles.

2. (Printing) The curved plate in which the form is held in a type-revolving cylinder press.

   Alligator turtle, Box turtle, etc. See under Alligator, Box, etc.

   green turtle (Zo["o]l.), a marine turtle of the genus Chelonia, having usually a smooth greenish or olive-colored shell. It is highly valued for the delicacy of its flesh, which is used especially for turtle soup. Two distinct species or varieties are known; one of which ( Chelonia Midas) inhabits the warm part of the Atlantic Ocean, and sometimes weighs eight hundred pounds or more; the other ( Chelonia virgata) inhabits the Pacific Ocean. Both species are similar in habits and feed principally on seaweed and other marine plants, especially the turtle grass.

   Turtle cowrie (Zo["o]l.), a large, handsome cowrie ( Cypr[ae]a testudinaria); the turtle-shell; so called because of its fancied resemblance to a tortoise in color and form.

   Turtle grass (Bot.), a marine plant ( Thalassia testudinum) with grasslike leaves, common about the West Indies.

   Turtle shell, tortoise shell. See under Tortoise.

Box \Box\, n.; pl. Boxes [As. box a small case or vessel with a cover; akin to OHG. buhsa box, G. b["u]chse; fr. L. buxus boxwood, anything made of boxwood. See Pyx, and cf. Box a tree, Bushel.]

1. A receptacle or case of any firm material and of various shapes.

2. The quantity that a box contain.

3. A space with a few seats partitioned off in a theater, or other place of public amusement.

   Laughed at by the pit, box, galleries, nay, stage.
   --Dorset.

   The boxes and the pit are sovereign judges.
   --Dryden.

4. A chest or any receptacle for the deposit of money; as, a poor box; a contribution box.

   Yet since his neighbors give, the churl unlocks, Damning the poor, his tripple-bolted box.
   --J. Warton.

5. A small country house. ``A shooting box.''
   --Wilson.

   Tight boxes neatly sashed.
   --Cowper.

6. A boxlike shed for shelter; as, a sentry box.

7. (Mach)

   1. An axle box, journal box, journal bearing, or bushing.

   2. A chamber or section of tube in which a valve works; the bucket of a lifting pump.

8. The driver's seat on a carriage or coach.

9. A present in a box; a present; esp. a Christmas box or gift. ``A Christmas box.''
   --Dickens.

10. (Baseball) The square in which the pitcher stands.

11. (Zo["o]l.) A Mediterranean food fish; the bogue.

    Note: Box is much used adjectively or in composition; as box lid, box maker, box circle, etc.; also with modifying substantives; as money box, letter box, bandbox, hatbox or hat box, snuff box or snuffbox.

    Box beam (Arch.), a beam made of metal plates so as to have the form of a long box.

    Box car (Railroads), a freight car covered with a roof and inclosed on the sides to protect its contents.

    Box chronometer, a ship's chronometer, mounted in gimbals, to preserve its proper position.

    Box coat, a thick overcoat for driving; sometimes with a heavy cape to carry off the rain.

    Box coupling, a metal collar uniting the ends of shafts or other parts in machinery.

    Box crab (Zo["o]l.), a crab of the genus Calappa, which, when at rest with the legs retracted, resembles a box.

    Box drain (Arch.), a drain constructed with upright sides, and with flat top and bottom.

    Box girder (Arch.), a box beam.

    Box groove (Metal Working), a closed groove between two rolls, formed by a collar on one roll fitting between collars on another.
    --R. W. Raymond.

    Box metal, an alloy of copper and tin, or of zinc, lead, and antimony, for the bearings of journals, etc.

    Box plait, a plait that doubles both to the right and the left.

    Box turtle or

    Box tortoise (Zo["o]l.), a land tortoise or turtle of the genera Cistudo and Emys; -- so named because it can withdraw entirely within its shell, which can be closed by hinged joints in the lower shell. Also, humorously, an exceedingly reticent person.
    --Emerson.

    In a box, in a perplexity or an embarrassing position; in difficulty. (Colloq.)

    In the wrong box, out of one's place; out of one's element; awkwardly situated. (Colloq.)
    --Ridley (1554)

alt. A turtle of the genus (taxlink Terrapene genus) (the North American box turtles), or of (taxlink Cuora genus) or (taxlink Pyxidea genus) (the Asian box turtles), characterised by having a domed shell that is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape predators. n. A turtle of the genus (taxlink Terrapene genus) (the North American box turtles), or of (taxlink Cuora genus) or (taxlink Pyxidea genus) (the Asian box turtles), characterised by having a domed shell that is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape predators.

n. chiefly terrestrial turtle of North America; shell can be closed tightly [syn: box tortoise]

Box turtles (also known as crescent turtles) are turtles of the genus Terrapene native to North America (United States and Mexico). They are also known as box tortoises, although box turtles are terrestrial members of the American pond turtle family ( Emydidae), and not members of the tortoise family ( Testudinidae). The twelve taxa which are distinguished in the genus are distributed over four species. They are largely characterized by having a domed shell, which is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape predators. Box turtles have become popular pets, although their needs in captivity are complex. The females usually have yellowish, brown eyes and the males usually have red or orange eyes, but the most reliable manner to distinguish males from females is to examine the plastron; on males there is a concave area centered beneath the hinge.