turkey

noun

tur·​key ˈtər-kē How to pronounce turkey (audio)
plural turkeys
1
plural also turkey : a large North American gallinaceous bird (Meleagris gallopavo) that is domesticated in most parts of the world
also : its flesh used as food
2
: failure, flop
especially : a theatrical production that has failed
3
: three successive strikes in bowling
4
: a stupid, foolish, or inept person

Illustration of turkey

Illustration of turkey
  • turkey 1

Examples of turkey in a Sentence

He was acting like a complete turkey. only a turkey would think it's a good idea to go for a jog when the weather drops below zero
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their efforts don’t stop with turkey: Since Saturday, the team has been on the ground in Newland, one of the towns that faced the most severe storm damage, delivering necessities like warm winter clothes, toiletries and goodies for kids. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 30 Nov. 2024 Top with turkey; drizzle with remaining Alfredo sauce. Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 30 Nov. 2024 The duo reportedly helped volunteers distribute over 1,000 turkeys along with produce like potatoes and carrots to families in need. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024 In the early morning hours of Friday, Nov. 29, the Enough star shared a photo on Instagram of herself smiling in front of a roasted turkey while wearing an autumnal sweater. Toria Sheffield, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for turkey 

Word History

Etymology

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, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of turkey was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near turkey

Cite this Entry

“Turkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turkey. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

turkey

noun
tur·​key ˈtər-kē How to pronounce turkey (audio)
plural turkeys
1
plural also turkey : a large North American bird that is related to the domestic chicken and is domesticated in most parts of the world
2
: something that is a failure
the new play was a turkey
3
: a stupid or foolish person
Etymology

from turkey-cock, an old word for "guinea fowl," from Turkey, a country in Asia Minor; so called because at one time people thought guinea fowl came from Turkey

Word Origin
The bird we now call the guinea fowl was once called the turkey. Turkey was the shortened version of turkey-cock and turkey-hen. The guinea fowl's original home was in Africa. However, Europeans discovered that it was good to eat and did well in captivity, so they brought it back to Europe. Some people mistakenly thought that the birds came from Turkey, and the name stuck. Later, when English settlers first arrived in America, they found a large bird living here that was also good to eat. They called this new bird turkey because it reminded them of the turkey they were familiar with back in Europe.

Geographical Definition

Turkey

geographical name

Tur·​key ˈtər-kē How to pronounce Turkey (audio)
variants or now officially Türkiye
country in western Asia and southeastern Europe between the Mediterranean and Black seas; capital Ankara area 302,535 square miles (783,562 square kilometers), population 81,257,000 see ottoman empire

Note: Turkey was formerly the center of an empire whose capital was Constantinople. Since 1923 it has been a republic.

see also turk sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on turkey

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