Nautical Term: Turn turtle

Definition of Turn turtle

To turn a vessel upside down, resulting in a complete capsize of the watercraft.

For instance, during a storm at sea, the crew of a sailing ship struggled to keep their vessel stable. Despite their best efforts, a massive wave struck the ship, causing it to turn turtle and sink to the bottom of the ocean.

Explore other nautical terms:

Head back to the Nautical Dictionary

Take a Tour With Us!

Recommended Reading