gopher tortoise

noun

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

Origin of gopher tortoise

First recorded in 1785–95; see origin at gopher1

Words nearby gopher tortoise

gopher, gopher ball, gopher plant, gopher snake, gopher state, gopher tortoise, gopher wood, gopherberry, gopherwood, gopi, gopāla