What is "terrapin"

Terrapin \Ter"ra*pin\, n. [Probably of American Indian origin.] (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of tortoises living in fresh and brackish waters. Many of them are valued for food. [Written also terapin, terrapen, terrapene, turpen, and turapen.]

Note: The yellow-bellied terrapin ( Pseudemys scabra) of the Southern United States, the red-bellied terrapin ( Pseudemys rugosa or Chrysemys rubriventris), native of the tributaries Chesapeake Bay (called also potter, slider, and redfender), and the diamond-back or salt-marsh terrapin ( Malaclemmys palustris), are the most important American species. The diamond-back terrapin is native of nearly the whole of the Atlantic coast of the United States.

Alligator terrapin, the snapping turtle.

Mud terrapin, any one of numerous species of American tortoises of the genus Cinosternon.

Painted terrapin, the painted turtle. See under Painted.

Speckled terrapin, a small fresh-water American terrapin ( Chelopus guttatus) having the carapace black with round yellow spots; -- called also spotted turtle.

North American turtle, 1670s, earlier torope (1610s), from an Algonquian source (such as Abenaki turepe, Munsee (Delaware) tolpew "turtle"). Subsequently extended to allied species in South America, East Indies, China, North Africa.

n. Any of several North American turtles, of the family Emydidae, that live in fresh or brackish water.

n. any of various edible North American web-footed turtles living in fresh or brackish water

A terrapin is a turtle living in fresh or brackish water.

Terrapin may also refer to:

• Terrapin (amphibious vehicle), a transport vehicle used for amphibious assault by the Allies during the Second World War
• "Terrapin" (song), a song by Syd Barrett from The Madcap Laughs, covered by Smashing Pumpkins and others
• HMS Terrapin (P323), a British ship
• Terrapin Beer Company
• Maryland Terrapins, the athletic teams of the University of Maryland
• Portable classroom or terrapin, a temporary building installed on the grounds of a school to provide additional classroom space

The Terrapin "4-ton amphibian" was a British-manufactured, amphibious armoured transport vehicle of the Second World War. It was first used in 1944 at Antwerp during the Battle of the Scheldt.

The Terrapin served with the Royal Engineer assault teams of the 79th Armoured Division and were used to carry infantry units (Canadian and British) over rivers.

A terrapin is one of several small species of turtle living in fresh or brackish water. Terrapins do not form a taxonomic unit, and may not be related. Many belong to the families Geoemydidae and Emydidae.

The name "terrapin" is derived from torope, a word in the Native American Algonquian language that referred to the species, Malaclemys terrapin. It appears that it became part of common usage during the colonial era of North America and was carried back to Great Britain. Since then, it has been used in common names for turtles in the English language. In the UK, red-eared sliders are known as red-eared terrapins.

"Terrapin" is a song by Syd Barrett that appears as the first track off his first solo album The Madcap Laughs and is notably the sole representative from that album that appears on The Peel Session. The song's arrangement is sparse, like much of the album, and features only acoustic and electric guitar accompaniment to the vocals. This song, along with "Maisie" and " Bob Dylan Blues"; reflected Barrett's early interest in the blues. Iggy the Eskimo, one of Barrett's acquaintances, had called the song "quite catchy".

The Syd Barrett Appreciation Society titled its official magazine Terrapin (published from 1972–1976), in tribute to the song. It was released on the multi-artist Harvest compilation, Picnic – A Breath of Fresh Air.