tortoiseshell

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tortoiseshell

tortoiseshell horny, translucent, mottled plates covering the carapace of the tropical hawksbill turtle. The plates, too thin for most purposes in their original form, are usually built up in layers that are molded or compressed after the surfaces have been liquefied by heat; thus, a firm union is effected after resolidification. Inlays can be imbedded in the shell with a hot iron. Tortoiseshell has been used in veneering since ancient times; its chief use today is in the manufacture of toilet articles and decorative objects. It is imitated in products of celluloid and horn, but the laminated structure of most genuine work aids in identifying the real shell.

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tortoiseshell

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

tor·toise·shell / ˈtôrtə(s)ˌshel/ • n. 1. the semitransparent mottled yellow and brown shell of certain turtles, typically used to make jewelry or ornaments. ∎ a synthetic substance made in imitation of this. 2. short for tortoiseshell cat. 3. short for tortoiseshell butterfly.

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"tortoiseshell." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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"tortoiseshell." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved December 01, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-tortoiseshell.html

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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms | 2001 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

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MICHAEL CLARKE and DEBORAH CLARKE. "tortoiseshell." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL CLARKE and DEBORAH CLARKE. "tortoiseshell." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (December 1, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O4-tortoiseshell.html

MICHAEL CLARKE and DEBORAH CLARKE. "tortoiseshell." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms. 2001. Retrieved December 01, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O4-tortoiseshell.html

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