Box turtle

Box turtle
Box Box, n.; pl. {Boxes} [As. box a small case or vessel with a cover; akin to OHG. buhsa box, G. b["u]chse; fr. L. buxus boxwood, anything made of boxwood. See {Pyx}, and cf. {Box} a tree, {Bushel}.] 1. A receptacle or case of any firm material and of various shapes. [1913 Webster]

2. The quantity that a box contain. [1913 Webster]

3. A space with a few seats partitioned off in a theater, or other place of public amusement. [1913 Webster]

Laughed at by the pit, box, galleries, nay, stage. --Dorset. [1913 Webster]

The boxes and the pit are sovereign judges. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4. A chest or any receptacle for the deposit of money; as, a poor box; a contribution box. [1913 Webster]

Yet since his neighbors give, the churl unlocks, Damning the poor, his tripple-bolted box. --J. Warton. [1913 Webster]

5. A small country house. ``A shooting box.'' --Wilson. [1913 Webster]

Tight boxes neatly sashed. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]

6. A boxlike shed for shelter; as, a sentry box. [1913 Webster]

7. (Mach) (a) An axle box, journal box, journal bearing, or bushing. (b) A chamber or section of tube in which a valve works; the bucket of a lifting pump. [1913 Webster]

8. The driver's seat on a carriage or coach. [1913 Webster]

9. A present in a box; a present; esp. a Christmas box or gift. ``A Christmas box.'' --Dickens. [1913 Webster]

10. (Baseball) The square in which the pitcher stands. [1913 Webster]

11. (Zo["o]l.) A Mediterranean food fish; the bogue. [1913 Webster]

Note: Box is much used adjectively or in composition; as box lid, box maker, box circle, etc.; also with modifying substantives; as money box, letter box, bandbox, hatbox or hat box, snuff box or snuffbox. [1913 Webster]

{Box beam} (Arch.), a beam made of metal plates so as to have the form of a long box.

{Box car} (Railroads), a freight car covered with a roof and inclosed on the sides to protect its contents.

{Box chronometer}, a ship's chronometer, mounted in gimbals, to preserve its proper position.

{Box coat}, a thick overcoat for driving; sometimes with a heavy cape to carry off the rain.

{Box coupling}, a metal collar uniting the ends of shafts or other parts in machinery.

{Box crab} (Zo["o]l.), a crab of the genus {Calappa}, which, when at rest with the legs retracted, resembles a box.

{Box drain} (Arch.), a drain constructed with upright sides, and with flat top and bottom.

{Box girder} (Arch.), a box beam.

{Box groove} (Metal Working), a closed groove between two rolls, formed by a collar on one roll fitting between collars on another. --R. W. Raymond.

{Box metal}, an alloy of copper and tin, or of zinc, lead, and antimony, for the bearings of journals, etc.

{Box plait}, a plait that doubles both to the right and the left.

{Box turtle} or

{Box tortoise} (Zo["o]l.), a land tortoise or turtle of the genera {Cistudo} and {Emys}; -- so named because it can withdraw entirely within its shell, which can be closed by hinged joints in the lower shell. Also, humorously, an exceedingly reticent person. --Emerson.

{In a box}, in a perplexity or an embarrassing position; in difficulty. (Colloq.)

{In the wrong box}, out of one's place; out of one's element; awkwardly situated. (Colloq.) --Ridley (1554) [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Box turtle — Turtle Tur tle, n. [Probably the same word as the word preceding, and substituted (probably by sailors) for the Spanish or Portuguese name; cf. Sp. tortuga tortoise, turtle, Pg. tartaruga, also F. tortue, and E. tortoise.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • box turtle — ☆ box turtle or box tortoise n. any of several North American terrapins (genus Terrapene) with a hinged shell that can be completely closed: usually found on land …   English World dictionary

  • Box turtle — Taxobox name = Box Turtle image width = 250px image caption = Florida Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina bauri regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Reptilia ordo = Testudines familia = Emydidae subdivision ranks = Genera subdivision = Cuora… …   Wikipedia

  • box turtle — 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. Also called box tortoise. See illus. under turtle. [1795 1805, Amer.] * * *… …   Universalium

  • box turtle — noun chiefly terrestrial turtle of North America; shell can be closed tightly • Syn: ↑box tortoise • Hypernyms: ↑turtle • Hyponyms: ↑Western box turtle, ↑Terrapene ornata • Member Holony …   Useful english dictionary

  • box turtle — box′ tur tle n. ram any chiefly terrestrial North American turtle of the genus Terrapene, having a hinged shell that can be tightly shut. Also called box′ tor toise • Etymology: 1795–1805, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • box turtle — noun A turtle of the genus Terrapene (the North American box turtles), or of Cuora or Pyxidea (the Asian box turtles), characterised by having a domed shell that is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape… …   Wiktionary

  • box turtle — noun a land living turtle having a lower shell with hinged lobes that can be drawn up tightly. [Genus Terrapene: several species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • box turtle — noun Date: circa 1804 any of several North American land turtles (genus Terrapene) capable of withdrawing into their shell and closing it by hinged joints in the lower half called also box tortoise …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Ornate box turtle — This article is about the subspecies Terrapene ornata ornata. For the subspecies Terrapene ornata, see Terrapene ornata. Ornate box turtle Conservation status …   Wikipedia

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