A tortoise-shell refers to the hard, patterned outer shell of a tortoise, commonly used to describe a variegated brown-and-yellow motif. In jewelry and design, “tortoise-shell” denotes a translucent, warm, mottled pattern inspired by the animal’s shell. It is also used metaphorically to describe a speckled, rounded, protective surface. The term is most often applied as an adjective or compound noun in fashion, art, and zoological contexts.
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