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box turtle

American

noun

any of several chiefly terrestrial turtles of the genus Terrapene, of North America, having a hinged plastron that can be tightly shut to enclose and protect the body.

Etymology

Origin of box turtle

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The eastern box turtle is also deemed vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2025

“The whole concept of evil … what the hell is that all about?” asks a box turtle named Bertrand.

From New York Times • Jun. 28, 2022

Someone brought in a box turtle sick with the virus to the Wildlife Rescue Center in Ballwin last summer.

From Washington Times • Apr. 27, 2021

Biles also offers a sculpture of a little girl atop a box turtle in which the shell’s pattern has migrated to the child’s face and hands.

From Washington Post • Dec. 5, 2019

It’s a turtle, box turtle, munching on old Whopper lettuce.

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023