Turkey Definition

tûrkē
turkeys
noun
turkeys
Any of a family (Meleagrididae) of large, gallinaceous North American birds with a small, naked head and a tail that can be spread like a fan, including a wild or domesticated species (Meleagris gallopavo) bred as poultry and a wild species (Agriocharis ocellata) of Central America, with eyespots on the tail.
Webster's New World
The flesh of a turkey.
Webster's New World
A related bird (Meleagris ocelatta syn. Agriocharis ocellata) of Mexico and Central America, brilliantly colored and having eyelike spots on its tail.
American Heritage
A failure.
Webster's New World
An inept, stupid, or unpleasant person.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
pronoun

Country at the intersection of Europe and Asia on the Mediterranean. Official name: Republic of Turkey.

Wiktionary
idiom
talk turkey
  • To speak frankly about the basic facts of a matter.
American Heritage
talk turkey
  • to talk bluntly and directly
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Turkey

Noun

Singular:
turkey
Plural:
turkeys

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Turkey

Origin of Turkey

  • From Turkey. The guinea fowl (Numida meleagris), native to Africa, was imported to Europe by turkey merchants. The larger northern American bird Meleagris gallopavo, thought to resemble the guinea fowl, was brought to Spain by conquistadors in 1523; from there it was introduced to northern Africa, at the time under Ottoman rule, and then via the Middle East back into Europe.

    From Wiktionary

  • From French Turquie, Medieval Latin Turquia, from Turcus (“Turk"), from Byzantine Greek Τοῦρκος, from Persian ترک (Turk), from Middle Persian twlk' (Turk), from an Old Turkic autonym, Türk or Türük.

    From Wiktionary

  • After Turkey from a confusion with the guinea fowl, once believed to have originated in Turkish territory

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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