† ˈshellpad Obs.
Also 6 schell-, 6–7 shel-, 8 shellpot.
[f. shell n. + pad n.1 after (M)LG. schildpadde, MDu. schiltpadde (Du. schildpad), lit. ‘shield-toad’.]
A tortoise.
| 1562 Withals Dict. 9 b/1 A tortes or shell padde, testudo. 1570 Levins Manip. 8/8 A shelpad, testudo. 1790 Massachusetts Spy 24 June (Thornton Amer. Gloss.), A small turtle..known [in Virginia] by the name of shellpot. |
Hence † shell-paddock Sc.
| 1565 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 413 Ane penny..havand on the one syde ane palmetre crownit, ane schell padocke crepand up the schank of the samyn. c 1600 in Watson Coll. Sc. Poems (1709) ii. 54 Shell-padock, ill shapen Shit, Kid-bearded jennet, all alike grit. 1673 Wedderburn Vocab. 15 (Jam.) Testudo, a shel-paddock. |