Abbreviation of the "awkward turtle" hand gesture - expressed in one word. Turtle.
Awkward turtle is abbreviated to make it easier to define a situation. Or refer to turtles in the area.
mate: how was it meeting her parents?
boy: oh man... it was so bad. there were turtles everywhere.
boy: i totally had to watch this sex scene in a cinema with my parents.
mate: hahahahaha!
boy: a turtle walked past me and waved, saving "hi, my name's awkward"