1. (

• tortoiseshell

) the mottled horny substance of the shell of some turtles ;

2. (

• tortoiseshell ,
• tortoiseshell_butterfly

) brilliantly colored; larvae feed on nettles ;

3. (

• tortoiseshell ,
• tortoiseshell-cat ,
• calico_cat

) a cat having black and cream-colored and yellowish markings ;