a small tropical turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, with a hooked beaklike mouth: a source of tortoiseshell: family Chelonidae
Also called: hawkbill, tortoiseshell turtle
hawksbill turtle in American English
(ˈhɔksˌbɪl)
noun
a sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, the shell of which is the source of tortoise shell: an endangered species
Also called: hawksbill, hawkbill, tortoiseshell turtle
Word origin
[1650–60; hawk1 + 's1 + bill2]This word is first recorded in the period 1650–60. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: cardholder, oscillation, parade, parameter, siphon
Examples of 'hawksbill turtle' in a sentence
hawksbill turtle
That'll be the green and hawksbill turtles.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They'll be able to paddle out straight towards a shallow reef to swim with hawksbill turtles.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Hawksbill turtles, on the other hand, were extensively hunted for their beautiful shells, which when processed is called tortoiseshell.
2019, 'Green Sea Turtles Are Bouncing Back Around U.S. Pacific Islands', Smithsonianhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/green-sea-turtles-are-bouncing-back-around-us-pacific-islands-180972058/
The marine area of the site includes coral reefs and a variety sea life such as hawksbill turtles, whales and whale sharks.