terrapin

Etymology

Came from torup (“snapping turtle native to North America, especially the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)”), or from its etymon Powhatan *tōrəp (“sea turtle”), possibly with English -ine (the suffix forming derivative or diminutive nouns), perhaps influenced by Latin terra (“dry land; soil; planet Earth”). It is cognate with Abenaki tolba (“turtle”), Penobscot dolba and Unami (pisëla)tulpe (“soft-shelled turtle”).