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.
Tur"keis (?), a. [Cf. Turquoise.] Turkish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Tur"key (?), n. [Cf. 2d Turkey.] An empire in the southeast of Europe
and southwest of Asia.
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. (Zoöl.) See Toilet sponge, under Sponge. — Turkey
stone, a kind of oilstone from Turkey; novaculite; — called also Turkey
oilstone.
Tur"key (?), n.; pl. Turkeys (#). [So called because it was formerly
erroneously believed that it came originally from Turkey: cf. F.
Turquie Turkey. See Turk.] (Zoöl.) 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.
The Mexican wild turkey is now considered a variety of the northern
species (var. Mexicana). Its tall feathers and coverts are tipped with
white instead of brownish chestnut, and its flesh is white. The Central
American, or ocellated, turkey (M. 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.
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 S. torvum). — Turkey bird (Zoöl.), the wryneck. So called
because it erects and ruffles the feathers of its neck when disturbed.
[Prov. Eng.] — Turkey buzzard (Zoöl.), 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. Its is noted for its high and graceful flight. Called also
turkey vulture. — Turkey cock (Zoöl.), a male turkey. — Turkey hen
(Zoöl.), a female turkey. — Turkey pout (Zoöl.), a young turkey. [R.] —
Turkey vulture (Zoöl.), the turkey buzzard.
Tur"keys (?), a. Turkish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Turk"ic (?), a. Turkish.