Turk
(Turk) n. [Per. Turk; probably of Tartar origin: cf. F. Turc.]
1. A member of any of numerous Tartar tribes of Central Asia, etc.; esp., one of the dominant race in
Turkey.
2. A native or inhabitant of Turkey.
3. A Mohammedan; esp., one living in Turkey.
It is no good reason for a man's religion that he was born and brought up in it; for then a Turk would
have as much reason to be a Turk as a Christian to be a Christian.
Chillingworth. 4. (Zoöl.) The plum weevil. See Curculio, and Plum weevil, under Plum.
Turk's cap. (Bot.) (a) Turk's-cap lily. See under Lily. (b) A tulip. (c) A plant of the genus Melocactus; Turk's
head. See Melon cactus, under Melon. — Turk's head. (a) (Naut.) A knot of turbanlike form worked
on a rope with a piece of small line. R. H. Dana, Jr. (b) (Bot.) See Turk's cap (c) above. — Turk's
turban (Bot.), a plant of the genus Ranunculus; crowfoot.
Turkeis
(Tur"keis) a. [Cf. Turquoise.] Turkish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Turkey
(Tur"key) n. [Cf. 2d Turkey.] An empire in the southeast of Europe and southwest of Asia.
Turkey carpet, a superior kind of carpet made in Asia Minor and adjoining countries, having a deep
pile and composed of pure wool with a weft of different material. It is distinguishable by its coloring and
patterns from similar carpets made in India and elsewhere. — Turkey oak. (Bot.) See Cerris. —
Turkey red. (a) A brilliant red imparted by madder to cottons, calicoes, etc., the fiber of which has
been prepared previously with oil or other fatty matter. (b) Cloth dyed with this red. — Turkey sponge.
(Zoöl.) See Toilet sponge, under Sponge. — Turkey stone, a kind of oilstone from Turkey; novaculite; —
called also Turkey oilstone.
Turkey
(Tur"key) n.; pl. Turkeys [So called because it was formerly erroneously believed that it came
originally from Turkey: cf. F. Turquie Turkey. See Turk.] (Zoöl.) Any large American gallinaceous bird
belonging to the genus Meleagris, especially the North American wild turkey and the domestic turkey,
which was probably derived from the Mexican wild turkey, but had been domesticated by the Indians
long before the discovery of America.
The Mexican wild turkey is now considered a variety of the northern species Its tall feathers and coverts
are tipped with white instead of brownish chestnut, and its flesh is white. The Central American, or ocellated,
turkey (M. ocellata) is more elegantly colored than the common species. See under Ocellated. The
Australian, or native, turkey is a bustard See under Native.
Turkey beard (Bot.), a name of certain American perennial liliaceous herbs of the genus Xerophyllum.
They have a dense tuft of hard, narrowly linear radical leaves, and a long raceme of small whitish flowers.
Also called turkey's beard. — Turkey berry (Bot.), a West Indian name for the fruit of certain kinds
of nightshade (Solanum mammosum, and S. torvum). — Turkey bird (Zoöl.), the wryneck. So called
because it erects and ruffles the feathers of its neck when disturbed. [Prov. Eng.] — Turkey buzzard
(Zoöl.), a black or nearly black buzzard abundant in the Southern United States. It is so called because
its naked and warty head and neck resemble those of a turkey. Its is noted for its high and graceful
flight. Called also turkey vulture. — Turkey cock (Zoöl.), a male turkey. — Turkey hen (Zoöl.), a
female turkey. — Turkey pout (Zoöl.), a young turkey. [R.] — Turkey vulture (Zoöl.), the turkey buzzard.
Turkeys
(Tur"keys) a. Turkish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Turkic
(Turk"ic) a. Turkish.
