Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

turnix

noun
tur·​nix | \ˈtərniks\

Definition of turnix 

1 capitalized : a genus comprising small 3-toed birds that live on grassy plains of southern Europe, Asia, and northern Africa and are related to the plovers and sand grouse and constituting with the genus Pedionomus the family Turnicidae

2 plural -es : any bird of the genus Turnix : button quail

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for turnix

New Latin, short for Latin coturnix quail

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about turnix

Statistics for turnix

Look-up Popularity

Comments on turnix

What made you want to look up turnix? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

vitiate

to make faulty or ineffective

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Find the Cousins

  • a-large-tree-with-many-branches
  • Which pair shares a common word ancestor?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games