testudo
1
9.9
Soldiers holding shields over their heads to make a roof for protection from arrows
- noun
- /tɛˈstuːdoʊ/
- Archaic
:
testudo
- As they approached the fortifications, the commander ordered, "Prepare the testudo!"
Examples
-
On my command, we form testudo!
-
- Testudo!
-
The soldiers formed a testudo to shield themselves from arrows while advancing toward the enemy.
-
Using their shields, the Roman legionnaires created a testudo to protect against the enemy's projectiles.
Compounds
Testudo graeca
- Specialized
9.9
A small land tortoise from southern Europe, often called the Greek tortoise
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word testudo comes from Latin testudo, which means 'tortoise'. Roman soldiers held their shields together to make a hard roof like a tortoise 'shell', so that moving shelter was called a testudo.