Terrapin
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 Any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae found throughout the world. countable
- 2 any of various edible North American web-footed turtles living in fresh or brackish water wordnet
- 3 Any turtle. countable, obsolete
"The third ſervice was made up of a loin of freſh pork with apple-ſauce, a kid ſmothered with onions, and a terrapin baked in the ſhell; […]"
- 4 Any of several small turtles native to North America that live in brackish or fresh water, especially the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). countable, obsolete
"As to the terrapin, I have not so much to say. The terrapin is a small turtle, found on the shores of Maryland and Virginia, out of which a very rich soup is made. It is cooked with wines and spices, and is served in the shape of a hash, with heaps of little bones mixed through it. […] I must, however, confess that the terrapin for me had no surpassing charms."
- 5 The flesh of such a turtle used as food. obsolete, uncountable
"The man who did not eat twice of terrapin would be held in small repute, as the Londoner is held who at a city banquet does not partake of both thick and thin turtle."
Example
More examples"The third ſervice was made up of a loin of freſh pork with apple-ſauce, a kid ſmothered with onions, and a terrapin baked in the ſhell; […]"
Etymology
From torup (“snapping turtle native to North America, especially the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)”) or from its etymon Powhatan *tōrəp (“sea turtle”) + possibly English -ine (suffix forming derivative or diminutive nouns), perhaps influenced by Latin terra (“dry land; soil; planet Earth”). Cognate with Abenaki tolba (“turtle”), Penobscot dolba and Unami (pisëla)tulpe (“soft-shelled turtle”).
Related phrases
More for "terrapin"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.