3. Race course; horse racing; — preceded by the. "We . . . claim the
honors of the turf." Cowper.
Turf is often used adjectively, or to form compounds which are
generally self-explaining; as, turf ashes, turf cutter or turf-cutter,
turf pit or turf-pit, turf-built, turf-clad, turf-covered, etc.
Turf ant (Zoöl.), a small European ant (Formica flava) which makes
small ant-hills on heaths and commons. — Turf drain, a drain made with
turf or peat. — Turf hedge, a hedge or fence formed with turf and
plants of different kinds. — Turf house, a house or shed formed of
turf, common in the northern parts of Europe. — Turf moss a tract of
turfy, mossy, or boggy land. — Turf spade, a spade for cutting and
digging turf, longer and narrower than the common spade.
Turf, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Turfed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Turfing.] To
cover with turf or sod; as, to turf a bank, of the border of a terrace.
A. Tucker.
Turf"en (?), a. Made of turf; covered with turf.
Turf"i*ness (?), n. Quality or state of being turfy.
Turf"ing, n. The act or process of providing or covering with turf.
Turfing iron, or Turfing spade, an implement for cutting, and paring
off, turf.
Turf"ite (?), n. A votary of the turf, or race course; hence,
sometimes, a blackleg. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
Turf"less, a. Destitute of turf.
Turf"man (?), n.; pl. Turfmen (&?;). A turfite; a votary of the turf,
or race course. [Colloq.]
Turf"y (?), a. [Compar. Turfier (?); superl. Turfiest.] 1. Abounding
with turf; made of, or covered with, turf. "The turfy mountains." Shak.