Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Sep 27, 2005 08:57
18 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Italian term
testuggine
Italian to English
Art/Literary
History
Medieval history/warfare
From a book describing a Medieval war:-
"Con rinnovato vigore i contadini di Rochemolles cercarono di riempire di legna e terra il fossato, che non era molto profondo, per dare una base solida al-l'attacco della testuggine."
I don't think it was ninja turtles, so I assume its a name fort a siege/attack device.
Any suggestions?
"Con rinnovato vigore i contadini di Rochemolles cercarono di riempire di legna e terra il fossato, che non era molto profondo, per dare una base solida al-l'attacco della testuggine."
I don't think it was ninja turtles, so I assume its a name fort a siege/attack device.
Any suggestions?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +5 | testudo |
Stefano Asperti
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| 5 +3 | tortoise or turtle formation |
Claire Titchmarsh (X)
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| 5 | battling ram |
Vittorio Preite
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| 2 +1 | testudo |
Rachel Fell
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| 3 | testuGo |
CLS Lexi-tech
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Proposed translations
+5
6 mins
Stefano Asperti
Italy
Italy
Native in Italian
Works in field
Italy
Reliable and precise
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, German to Italian
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Selected
testudo
Ragazzini/Zanichelli dictionary
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Note added at 10 mins (2005-09-27 09:08:05 GMT)
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I think Claire is right. It seems that the word "testudo" in English is only used to indicate the covering of shields used by this formation.
Testudo
Noun
1. A movable protective covering that provided protection from above; used by Roman troops when approaching the walls of a besieged fortification.
2. Type genus of the Testudinidae.
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Note added at 7 hrs 9 mins (2005-09-27 16:07:17 GMT)
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Hi Alexander! I've just checked in my Latin dictionary (G. Campanini, G. Carboni, "Vocabolario latino italiano italiano-latino", Torino, Paravia 1961 (repr. 1987)) and I've found:
testūdō, testudǐnis = tartaruga, guscio di tartaruga; cetra; padiglione; tetto, tettoia, ***testuggine (macchina da guerra a forma di tettoia, sotto la quale gli assedianti movevano con l'ariete a far breccia nelle mura nemiche); testuggine (formata dai soldati congiungendo gli scudi sopra il capo e formando così una superficie compatta come il guscio di una tartaruga)***.
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Note added at 10 mins (2005-09-27 09:08:05 GMT)
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I think Claire is right. It seems that the word "testudo" in English is only used to indicate the covering of shields used by this formation.
Testudo
Noun
1. A movable protective covering that provided protection from above; used by Roman troops when approaching the walls of a besieged fortification.
2. Type genus of the Testudinidae.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 hrs 9 mins (2005-09-27 16:07:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Hi Alexander! I've just checked in my Latin dictionary (G. Campanini, G. Carboni, "Vocabolario latino italiano italiano-latino", Torino, Paravia 1961 (repr. 1987)) and I've found:
testūdō, testudǐnis = tartaruga, guscio di tartaruga; cetra; padiglione; tetto, tettoia, ***testuggine (macchina da guerra a forma di tettoia, sotto la quale gli assedianti movevano con l'ariete a far breccia nelle mura nemiche); testuggine (formata dai soldati congiungendo gli scudi sopra il capo e formando così una superficie compatta come il guscio di una tartaruga)***.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Daniela Zambrini
: anche :-)
2 mins
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Grazie Daniela!
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| agree |
Jane Griffiths (X)
: Yes, confirmed by Oxford Paravia and Sansoni Harrap's
6 hrs
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Grazie Jane!
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| agree |
Alfredo Tutino
: però Campanini e Carboni no! (le prime, stentatissime traduzioni della mia vita...
8 hrs
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Grazie Alfredo! Preferisci Castiglioni e Mariotti ;-) ?? (Bei tempi andati quando facevo le versioni di latino...)
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| agree |
Rachel Fell
8 hrs
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Thank you Rachel!
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| agree |
Linda 969
: Castiglioni-Mariotti rules ;-)
10 hrs
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Oh oh! Io sono un "paraviano" e tu una "loescheriana" allora ;-) Mamma mia, non posso crederci, ma ho nostalgia dei tempi del liceo :-) Mi sono divertito un mondo allora, anche con il latino!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks to all who answered, especially Clare for a very good explanation, however I have found this to be quite frequently used in the field."
+3
5 mins
tortoise or turtle formation
otherwise known as a phalanx. see links
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Daniela Zambrini
2 mins
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| agree |
Stefano Asperti
5 mins
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| agree |
marionclarion
: TESTUGGINE La testudo era una specie di tetto che i combattenti formavano con gli scudi al di sopra delle loro teste - metodo usato dai romani in poi - per avanzare fino alle mura delle roccaforti senza essere colpiti dal tiri dei nemici
42 mins
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+1
10 mins
Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Thorough, knowledgeable and resourceful
Native in: English (Variant: UK) 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
20
testudo
just wondered if it's to do with them using shields in the way Roman soldiers did, to join together with their shields facing the same way above them and form something like a tortosie shell to protect them form arrows or whatever
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortoise_formation
http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/W/weapons/shield....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortoise_formation
http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/W/weapons/shield....
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Stefano Asperti
: Yes, we were all typing at the same time :) I love your cat!! / Tell him I'm sorry for the mistake ;-)
6 hrs
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Thank you, Stefano - I think a few of us were answering at the same time, you know, not there when I started to answer, but there when I entered it!/Thank you - he's my son's (he told me to tell you! ;-)) :)
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5 hrs
Vittorio Preite
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in Italian
United Kingdom
Two cultures. One life
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
battling ram
www.growingtreetoys.com/ product/5160
ok, this is a toy, but now you can see what it was and a real one was enormous. Today the police use a smaller version, sized for today's castles.
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Note added at 5 hrs 39 mins (2005-09-27 14:37:50 GMT)
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this is a better one
groups.msn.com/.../ crusaders.msnw
ok, this is a toy, but now you can see what it was and a real one was enormous. Today the police use a smaller version, sized for today's castles.
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Note added at 5 hrs 39 mins (2005-09-27 14:37:50 GMT)
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this is a better one
groups.msn.com/.../ crusaders.msnw
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Jane Griffiths (X)
: I think you mean a battering ram, don't you? That would be an ariete, though.
1 hr
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Yes I do, thanks.
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| neutral |
Alfredo Tutino
: in effetti spesso la testuggine difendeva l'ariete, ma non è esattamente la stessa cosa
2 hrs
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si, ho capito, ma spesso l'uno significa l'altro e poi, a cosa senveriempire il fosso? per farci stare i soldati o la testuggine/ariete? Io penso che si tratti del secondo caso.
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4 hrs
CLS Lexi-tech
Native in Italian
Language innovations for the future
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, French to Italian, Italian, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
testuGo
dalla G latina discendono le due g dell'italiano.
Maybe a bit of explanation is needed; the latin gives the sentence the authentic flavour.
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Note added at 7 hrs 8 mins (2005-09-27 16:06:11 GMT)
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Si tratta di grande mio granchio e non tartaruga. Non volevo fuorviare l'asker e grazie a Stefano.
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Note added at 7 hrs 12 mins (2005-09-27 16:09:58 GMT)
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Sulla via Appia pero' si trova, una "testugo alvei" o tartaruga della vasca, vedi http://www.romacivica.net/tarcaf/storarc/quintili.htm
Forse e' solo un romanismo residuo, civis romanus sum!
Maybe a bit of explanation is needed; the latin gives the sentence the authentic flavour.
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Note added at 7 hrs 8 mins (2005-09-27 16:06:11 GMT)
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Si tratta di grande mio granchio e non tartaruga. Non volevo fuorviare l'asker e grazie a Stefano.
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Note added at 7 hrs 12 mins (2005-09-27 16:09:58 GMT)
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Sulla via Appia pero' si trova, una "testugo alvei" o tartaruga della vasca, vedi http://www.romacivica.net/tarcaf/storarc/quintili.htm
Forse e' solo un romanismo residuo, civis romanus sum!
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Stefano Asperti
: Ciao Paola, ho controllato sul mio dizionario latino e questo conferma "testūdō, testudǐnis" e mi conferma che è la testuggine (sia la copertura, sia la formazione). Buona giornata e buon lavoro :)
3 hrs
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Enorme granchio presi, altro che testuggine... Grazie Stefano!
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Discussion