shellpad

See also: shell-pad

English

Alternative forms

• shell-pad, shell padde, shelpad, shilpad, shellpot

Etymology

From earlier shell padde, equivalent to shell +‎ pad (“toad”). Compare Saterland Frisian Skildpudde (“turtle, tortoise”), West Frisian skyldpod (“tortoise”), Middle Dutch schildpadde (Dutch schildpad, Afrikaans skilpad), Middle Low German schildpadde, Danish skildpadde. See also shield-toad.

Noun

shellpad (plural not attested)

1. (now dialectal, rare, puristic) A turtle or tortoise.
   • 1868, John Foxe, The Church Historians of England:

     Of other he was called shilpad, that is to say, shelt-toad; for that he, being a short grundy, and of little stature, did ride commonly with a great broad hat, as a churl of the country.

Derived terms

• shell-paddock

Anagrams

• laphelds