turkey etymology

Etymology:

The word "turkey" derives from the following sources:

  • Old French: "Turkie"
  • Medieval Latin: "Turcia"
  • Arabic: "Dirāw-Hindi" (meaning "Indian rooster")

Meaning:

Turkey refers to:

  • A large, ground-dwelling bird of the family Phasianidae, native to North America and now domesticated worldwide.
  • The edible meat of this bird.

Origin:

  • The domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) originated in the forests of North America.
  • Native American tribes domesticated the bird over centuries, using it as a food source and for ceremonial purposes.
  • European explorers, including Christopher Columbus, encountered turkeys on their voyages to the Americas.
  • The English word "turkey" was coined in the early 16th century, when the birds were incorrectly identified as originating in Turkey. This misidentification was likely due to the similarity in appearance between turkeys and the guinea fowl (**Numida meleagris*), which was native to Africa and had been imported to Turkey.
  • The name stuck, even after it was discovered that turkeys were actually native to North America.

turkey relate terms

  • Turk

    Etymology Turk The word Turk originates from the Old Turkic word Türk or Türkü

  • turkey vulture

    Etymology The word turkey vulture is a compound noun derived from two separate words

  • turkey

    Etymology The word turkey derives from the following sources Old French Turkie M

  • vulture

    Etymology The word vulture comes from the Latin vultur which is derived from the Pr

  • joker

    Etymology and Meaning The word joker has its origins in the German word jocker meani

  • sultan

    Etymology Arabic سلطان sulṭān Late Latin sultanus Middle French soldan M

  • cafe

    Etymology The word café originates from the French word café which in turn comes f

  • Ladino

    Etymology From Old Spanish ladino expert skilled possibly from Latin latinus Latin

  • Osmanli

    Etymology The name Osmanli is derived from the personal name of Osman I the founder o

  • piaster

    Etymology French piastre Italian piastra Latin placenta flat cake Meaning A

  • fizzle

    Etymology The word fizzle comes from the Middle Dutch word vijzen meaning to make

  • Dardanelles

    Etymology The name Dardanelles comes from the following roots Dardanian The name o

  • Antioch

    Etymology Greek Αντιόχεια Antiókheia Meaning By Victory or Fortres