Definition of TERRAPIN

terrapin

Plural: terrapins

Noun

  • A small, edible, hard-shelled turtle found in fresh or brackish water.
  • any of various edible North American web-footed turtles living in fresh or brackish water
  • Any of several small turtles of the families Emydidae and Geoemydidae found throughout the world.
  • Any turtle.
  • Any of several small turtles native to North America that live in brackish or fresh water, especially the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin).
  • The flesh of such a turtle used as food.

Examples

  • The word TERRAPIN moved slowly but surely across the board, securing valuable points.

Origin / 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”).

Scrabble Score: 10

terrapin: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
terrapin: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
terrapin: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

terrapin: valid Words With Friends Word