tortua Save DMLBS Du Cange tortua [AN tortue; cf. tortuca], shelled reptile of the order Testudines, turtle or tortoise. Britannia major ~uis et scorpionibus ‥ caret Gir. TH I 9. TORTUA, Testudo, ex Gallico Tortue, apud Silvestrum Girald. in Topogr. Hibern. Dist. 1. cap. 7.