Shellpad

Alternative forms

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

Origin

From earlier shell padde, equivalent to shell + pad("toad"). Compare West Frisian skelpad, skelpat ("tortoise"), Middle Dutch schildpadde, Middle Low German schildpadde. See also shield-toad.

Full definition of shellpad

Noun

1. (obsolete, rare) 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