[Squirrelloid]

Ok, turtling is not waiting to get some research done. Turtling is dedicating excessive resources to defense at the expense of a viable offensive.

Water nations are not turtling when they can't effectively invade land because the research is a critical component to actually doing so.

A nation spending a little time achieving a critical tech before beginning its offensive is not turtling.

A nation maneuvering some forces before beginning its offensive is not turtling.

A nation who refuses to begin any offensive over a long timespan is probably turtling. Especially if they are investing resources in defensive measures in excess of what is reasonable or likely to be needed, and instead of putting those resources to use acquiring offensive units. Turtling is about waiting for people to attack you as your strategy.