diamondback terrapin

noun

: a terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) formerly widely distributed in salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts but now much restricted

Illustration of diamondback terrapin

Illustration of <span class=syl>diamondback terrapin</span>
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Examples of diamondback terrapin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Native turtle species like bog turtles, wood turtles, diamondback terrapins and eastern box turtles are also protected and cannot be collected or kept as pets. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026 Dozens of diamondback terrapins negotiating the road tucked their heads as an occasional vehicle approached. Tribune News Service, New York Daily News, 12 July 2024 In addition to being costly, coastal erosion associated with floods and storm surges threatens the habitat of shorebirds like sandpipers and plovers, as well as nesting turtles like the diamondback terrapin. Krista Langlois, Outside Online, 10 Mar. 2023 An adorable diamondback terrapin baby turtle found in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Cheryl Maguire, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diamondback terrapin was in 1887

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Cite this Entry

“Diamondback terrapin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diamondback%20terrapin. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

diamondback terrapin

noun
: any of several edible terrapins of coastal salt marshes of the southeastern U.S.

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