testudo

[ te-stoo-doh, -styoo- ]

noun

, plural tes·tu·di·nes [te-, stood, -n-eez, -, styood, -].

1. (among the ancient Romans) a movable shelter with a strong and usually fireproof arched roof, used for protection of soldiers in siege operations.
2. a shelter formed by overlapping oblong shields, held by soldiers above their heads.

testudo

/ tɛˈstjuːdəʊ /

noun

1. a form of shelter used by the ancient Roman Army for protection against attack from above, consisting either of a mobile arched structure or of overlapping shields held by the soldiers over their heads

Word History and Origins

Origin of testudo¹

1350–1400 for earlier sense “tumor”; 1600–10 testudo fordef 1; Middle English < Latin testūdō tortoise, tortoise shell, siege engine; akin to test ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of testudo¹

C17: from Latin: a tortoise, from testa a shell

Example Sentences

The Roman military formation called the "testudo" — Latin for "tortoise" — was supposedly inspired by this well-protected animal.

From The Verge

But I had no spare cash to lay out on stock, either in pigments or specimens of the genus testudo.

From Project Gutenberg

Wooden towers were brought to bear upon the battlements; a testudo of shields was used as cover for the men who undermined the walls; but Ez-Zegry was still unsubdued.

From Project Gutenberg

There's a particularly fine battle scene in which Marcus and his men form a testudo to confront the ferocious Brits, that concludes with him receiving near fatal wounds.

From The Guardian

Terms relating to War.—Thus notice:— pilum, the distinctively Roman infantry weapon, and see a good illustration. phalanx; cf. the Roman testudo. tertiam aciem—i.e. the line of reserves, kept for just such emergencies.

From Project Gutenberg