Testudinata to Tetrapneumona
Testudinata
(||Tes*tu`di*na"ta) n. pl. [Nl. See Testudo.] (Zoöl.) An order of reptiles which includes the
turtles and tortoises. The body is covered by a shell consisting of an upper or dorsal shell, called the
carapace, and a lower or ventral shell, called the plastron, each of which consists of several plates.
Testudinate
(Tes*tu"di*nate Tes*tu"di*na`ted) a. [L. testudinatus, fr. testudo, - inis, a tortoise, an arch
or vault.] Resembling a tortoise shell in appearance or structure; roofed; arched; vaulted.
Testudineous
(Tes`tu*din"e*ous) a. [L. testudineus.] Resembling the shell of a tortoise.
Testudo
(||Tes*tu"do) n.; pl. Testudines [L., from testa the shell of shellfish, or of testaceous animals.]
1. (Zoöl.) A genus of tortoises which formerly included a large number of diverse forms, but is now
restricted to certain terrestrial species, such as the European land tortoise (Testudo Græca) and the gopher
of the Southern United States.
2. (Rom. Antiq.) A cover or screen which a body of troops formed with their shields or targets, by
holding them over their heads when standing close to each other. This cover resembled the back of a
tortoise, and served to shelter the men from darts, stones, and other missiles. A similar defense was
sometimes formed of boards, and moved on wheels.
3. (Mus.) A kind of musical instrument. a species of lyre; — so called in allusion to the lyre of Mercury,
fabled to have been made of the shell of a tortoise.
Testy
(Tes"ty) a. [Compar. Testier ; superl. Testiest.] [OF. testu obstinate, headstrong, F. têtu, fr.
OF. teste the head, F. tête. See Test a cupel.] Fretful; peevish; petulant; easily irritated.
Must I observe you? must I stand and crouch
Under your testy humor?
Shak.
I was displeased with myself; I was testy.
Latimer. Tetanic
(Te*tan"ic) a. [Cf. L. tetanicus suffering from tetanus, Gr. F. tétanique.]
1. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to tetanus; having the character of tetanus; as, a tetanic state; tetanic
contraction.
This condition of muscle, this fusion of a number of simple spasms into an apparently smooth, continuous
effort, is known as tetanus, or tetanic contraction.
Foster. 2. (Physiol. & Med.) Producing, or tending to produce, tetanus, or tonic contraction of the muscles; as,
a tetanic remedy. See Tetanic, n.
Tetanic
(Te*tan"ic) n. (Physiol. & Med.) A substance (notably nux vomica, strychnine, and brucine)
which, either as a remedy or a poison, acts primarily on the spinal cord, and which, when taken in comparatively
large quantity, produces tetanic spasms or convulsions.
Tetanin
(Tet"a*nin) n. (Physiol. Chem.) A poisonous base (ptomaine) formed in meat broth through
the agency of a peculiar microbe from the wound of a person who has died of tetanus; — so called because
it produces tetanus as one of its prominent effects.
Tetanization
(Tet`a*ni*za"tion) n. (Physiol.) The production or condition of tetanus.
Tetanize
(Tet"a*nize) v. t. (Physiol.) To throw, as a muscle, into a state of permanent contraction; to
cause tetanus in. See Tetanus, n., 2.
Tetanoid
(Tet"a*noid) a. [Tetanus + - oid.] (Med. & Physiol.) Resembling tetanus.
