turtle

1、turtle 其实是两个意思挤在同一个拼写里：一个是"龟、海龟"，从法语 tortue 改过来的；一个是"斑鸠"，来自拉丁 turtur，是模仿鸽子咕咕叫造的词。tur-tur 这段重复正好像鸟叫两声。
2、说龟类怎么分：海龟 sea turtle，陆龟 tortoise，日常讲"乌龟"用 turtle 就够了。斑鸠这个词如今只剩在 turtledove 里出现。
3、别丢中间的 r：tur-tle，重音在前。英音 /ˈtɜː.təl/，那个 r 在美音里要卷舌 /ˈtɝː-/。

turtle 乌龟，鸽子，斑鸠

1.乌龟，改写自法语 tortue,来自古法语 tortue,来自拉丁语 tortuca,乌龟，词源同 tortoise.拼写 可能受另一个词 turtle 影响。 2.鸽子，斑鸠，来自古英语 turtle,异化自拉丁语 turtur,斑鸠，韵律重复拟声构词。

turtle

turtle: Turtle the dove [OE] and turtle the marine reptile [17] are different words. The former was borrowed from Latin turtur, which no doubt originated in imitation of the bird’s cooing. It is now encountered only in the compound turtledove, first recorded in the 13th century. Turtle the reptile is more of a mystery. It is generally assumed to be an alteration of French tortue ‘tortoise’ (source of English tortoise [15]), but since it is not known where that came from, it does not get us much further.

The expression turn turtle (which dates from the 19th century) alludes to the practice of sailors turning turtles over on to their backs, like beetles, so that they were helpless and could be easily captured.
=> tortoise

turtle (n.1)

"tortoise," c. 1600, originally "marine tortoise," from French tortue, tortre (13c.) "turtle, tortoise" (often associated with diabolical beasts), of unknown origin. The English word perhaps is a sailors' mauling of the French one, influenced by the similar sounding turtle (n.2). Later extended to land tortoises; sea-turtle is attested from 1610s.

turtle (n.2)

"turtledove," Old English turtle, dissimilation of Latin turtur "turtledove," a reduplicated form imitative of the bird's coo. Graceful, harmonious and affectionate to its mate, hence a term of endearment in Middle English. Turtle-dove is attested from c. 1300.

1. The spill could wipe out the Gulf's turtle population.

这次原油泄漏可能会使波斯湾的海龟灭绝。

2. A turtle in a jar is certainly caught within the reach.

瓮中之鳖,手到拿来.

3. The tug nearly turned turtle twice, but I managed to keep her upright.

拖船两次都差点翻个儿，但我设法稳住了船身。

4. The turtle hibernates in a shallow burrow for six months of the year.

海龟一年在一个浅洞中冬眠六个月.

5. If you turn over a turtle on its back, it will become helpless.

假如你把海龟翻过来, 它就无能为力了.