turtleback

[ tur-tl-bak ]

noun

1. Archaeology. tortoise-core.
2. Furniture. an oval or elliptical boss.

turtleback

/ ˈtɜːtəlˌbæk /

noun

1. an arched projection over the upper deck of a ship at the bow and sometimes at the stern for protection in heavy seas
2. now obsolete in archaeological usage a crude convex stone axe

Word History and Origins

Origin of turtleback¹

First recorded in 1880–85; turtle ¹ + back ¹

Example Sentences

What makes it so special are Ross’s trademark crowned, or turtleback, greens, which repel all but the best shots off the putting surface and into collection areas; this can leave diabolical recovery chips or putts to an uphill green that often return to where the previous shot started.

From Washington Post

I went out for a midafternoon hike to the ridges along Turtleback Mountain, an antidote to the more crowded trails of Moran State Park.

From New York Times

We played board games on New Year’s Eve, barely staying awake until midnight, and awoke the next morning for one of the centerpieces of our trip: a hike on Turtleback Mountain.

From Seattle Times

Stand atop Turtleback Mountain’s head for one shell of a view — it’s one of the best in the San Juans.

From Seattle Times

It was very windy here but we had three fish in no time, all on the same Dutch Fork Blue Tiger Turtleback blade.

From Seattle Times