turkey

tur·key

noun \ˈtər-kē\

plural turkeys

Definition of TURKEY

1

plural also turkey : a large North American gallinaceous bird (Meleagris gallopavo) that is domesticated in most parts of the world

2

: failure, flop; especially : a theatrical production that has failed

3

: three successive strikes in bowling

4

: a stupid, foolish, or inept person

Examples of TURKEY

1. He was acting like a complete turkey.
2. <only a turkey would think it's a good idea to go for a jog when the weather drops below zero>

Illustration of TURKEY

Origin of TURKEY

Turkey, country in western Asia and southeastern Europe; from confusion with the guinea fowl, supposed to be imported from Turkish territory

First Known Use: 1555

Related to TURKEY

Synonyms: berk [British], booby, charlie (also charley) [British], cuckoo, ding-a-ling, dingbat, ding-dong, dipstick, doofus [slang], featherhead, git [British], goose, half-wit, jackass, lunatic, mooncalf, nincompoop, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, nut, nutcase, simp, simpleton, fool, yo-yo

Antonyms: brain, genius

Related Words: daredevil; madman, madwoman; airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, cretin, dodo, dolt, donkey, dope, dork [slang], dumbbell, dummy, dunce, fathead, gander, goon, half-wit, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, know-nothing, knucklehead, moron, numskull (or numbskull), pinhead, schlub (also shlub) [slang], schlump [slang], schnook [slang], stock; featherbrain, scatterbrain; butt, dupe, laughingstock, mockery, monkey; chump, loser, schlemiel (also shlemiel); character, codger, crackbrain, crackpot, crank, kook, oddball, screwball, weirdo

Near Antonyms: sage, thinker; brain, genius

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other General Sports Terms

kegler, mulligan, rappel

Rhymes with TURKEY

jerky, murky, perky, smirky, Turkey