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1. (n.) testudo
(among the ancient Romans) a screen of interlocked shields held overhead by a column of troops.
Etymology: (1600–10; < L testūdō tortoise, testudo; akin to test2)
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| Definition of 'testudo' |
Princeton's WordNet |
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1. (noun) testudo
a movable protective covering that provided protection from above; used by Roman troops when approaching the walls of a besieged fortification
2. (noun) Testudo, genus Testudo
type genus of the Testudinidae
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| Definition of 'testudo' |
Webster Dictionary |
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1. (noun) testudo
a genus of tortoises which formerly included a large number of diverse forms, but is now restricted to certain terrestrial species, such as the European land tortoise (Testudo Graeca) and the gopher of the Southern United States
2. (noun) testudo
a cover or screen which a body of troops formed with their shields or targets, by holding them over their heads when standing close to each other. This cover resembled the back of a tortoise, and served to shelter the men from darts, stones, and other missiles. A similar defense was sometimes formed of boards, and moved on wheels
3. (noun) testudo
a kind of musical instrument. a species of lyre; -- so called in allusion to the lyre of Mercury, fabled to have been made of the shell of a tortoise
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| Definitions of 'testudo' |
The Nuttall Encyclopedia |
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1. testudo
in ancient Roman warfare a covering of the shields of the soldiers held over their heads as protection against missiles thrown from the walls when besieging a city.
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Definitions of testudo 
