gopher tortoise

gopher tortoise Word Origin noun

1. any North American burrowing tortoise of the genus Gopherus, especially G. polyphemus, of the southeastern U.S.: several species are now reduced in number.

Origin of gopher tortoise First recorded in 1785–95; see origin at gopher1 Also called gopher turtle, gopher. Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019