Webster's 1828 Dictionary
TERRAPIN
n.A name given to a species of tide-water tortoise.
Webster's 1913 Dictionary
TERRAPIN
Ter "ra *pin, n. Etym: [Probably of American Indian origin. ] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of tortoises living in fresh and brackish waters. Many of them are valued for food. [Written also terapin, terrapen, terrapene, and turapen.]
Note: The yellow-bellied terrapin (Pseudemys acebra ) of the Southern United States, the red-bellied terrapin (Pseudemys rugosa ), native of the tributaries Chesapeake Bay (called also potter, slider, and redfender ), and the diamond-back or salt-marsh terrapin (Malaclemmys palustris ), are the most important American species. The diamond-back terrapin is native of nearly the whole of the Atlantic coast of the United States. Alligator terrapin, the snapping turtle. -- Mud terrapin, any one of numerous species of American tortoises of the genus Cinosternon. -- Painted terrapin, the painted turtle. See under Painted. -- Speckled terrapin, a small fresh-water American terrapin (Chelopus guttatus ) having the carapace black with round yellow spots; -- called also spotted turtle.
New American Oxford Dictionary
terrapin
ter ra pin |ˈterəˌpin ˈtɛrəˌpɪn | ▶noun 1 (also diamondback terrapin ) a small edible turtle with lozenge-shaped markings on its shell, found in coastal marshes of the eastern US. [Malaclemys terrapin, family Emydidae. ] 2 a freshwater turtle, esp. one of the smaller kinds of the Old World. Also called turtle. [Emydidae and other families, order Chelonia: several genera and species. ] ORIGIN early 17th cent. (denoting the diamondback terrapin ): of Algonquian origin.
Oxford Dictionary
terrapin
terra |pin |ˈtɛrəpɪn | ▶noun 1 a freshwater turtle, especially one of the smaller kinds of the Old World. Called turtle in North America. ●Emydidae and other families, order Chelonia: several genera and species, in particular the European pond terrapin. 2 (also diamondback terrapin ) US a small edible turtle with lozenge-shaped markings on its shell, found in coastal marshes of the eastern US. ●Malaclemys terrapin, family Emydidae. 3 ( Terrapin ) Brit. trademark a type of prefabricated one-storey building for temporary use. ORIGIN early 17th cent. (denoting the diamondback terrapin ): of Algonquian origin.
Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary
terrapin
ter ra pin /térəpɪn /名詞 C 1 テラピン 〘北米産; 食用のカメ 〙.2 ｟商標 ｠〖T- 〗テラピン 〘1階建てのプレハブ住宅 〙.
The Wordsmith Dictionary