Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
testudo
Noun
/tɛˈstuː.doʊ/
Definition
A protective formation used by soldiers, particularly in ancient times, where soldiers would align their shields above their heads and in front of them, forming a shell-like structure.
Examples
- The ancient Roman soldiers advanced under the testudo formation to protect themselves from enemy projectiles.
- During the siege, the troops adopted the testudo to shield themselves from the attacking arrows.
Meaning
The term ‘testudo’ is derived from the Latin word for tortoise, due to the resemblance of the formation to a tortoise shell.
Synonyms
- Shield wall
- Cover formation
- Armored formation
