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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A native or inhabitant of Turkey. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A Muslim; esp., one living in Turkey. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) The plum weevil. See Curculio, and Plum weevil, under Plum. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. Turquoise. ] Turkish. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

pr. n. [ Cf. 2d Turkey. ] A country in the southeast of Europe and southwest of Asia. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. (Zool.) See Toilet sponge, under Sponge. --
Turkey stone, a kind of oilstone from Turkey; novaculite; -- called also Turkey oilstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Turkeys [ So called because it was formerly erroneously believed that it came originally from Turkey: cf. F. Turquie Turkey. See Turk. ] (Zool.) Any large American gallinaceous bird belonging to the genus Meleagris, especially the North American wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Mexican wild turkey is now considered a variety of the northern species (var. Mexicana). Its tail feathers and coverts are tipped with white instead of brownish chestnut, and its flesh is white. The Central American, or ocellated, turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is more elegantly colored than the common species. See under Ocellated. The Australian, or native, turkey is a bustard (Choriotis australis). See under Native. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 Solanum torvum). --
Turkey bird (Zool.), the wryneck. So called because it erects and ruffles the feathers of its neck when disturbed. [ Prov. Eng. ] --
Turkey buzzard (Zool.), a black or nearly black buzzard (Cathartes aura), abundant in the Southern United States. It is so called because its naked and warty head and neck resemble those of a turkey. It is noted for its high and graceful flight. Called also turkey vulture. --
Turkey cock (Zool.), a male turkey. --
Turkey hen (Zool.), a female turkey. --
Turkey pout (Zool.), a young turkey. [ R. ] --
Turkey vulture (Zool.), the turkey buzzard. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Turkish. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An eccentric ragtime dance, danced with the feet well apart and with a characteristic rise on the ball of the foot, followed by a drop upon the heel. The original form, owing to the positions assumed by the dancers, is offensively suggestive. Similar dances are the
bunny hug and
grizzly bear, so called in allusion to the movements and the positions assumed by the partners in dancing. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Turkish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Min.) Turquois. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

pr. a. Of or pertaining to Turkey or the Turks. -- n. The language spoken by Turks, esp. that of the people of Turkey. -- Turk"ish*ly, adv. -- Turk"ish*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A Turkish idiom or expression; also, in general, a Turkish mode or custom. Same as Turcism. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]