Turk

¹

[turk]

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Turkey.

2. (formerly) a native or inhabitant of the Ottoman Empire.

3. a Muslim, especially a subject of the Sultan of Turkey.

4. a member of any of the peoples speaking Turkic languages.

5. one of a breed of Turkish horses closely related to the Arabian horse.

6. any Turkish horse.

7. Young Turk.

8. Archaic.,  a cruel, brutal, and domineering man.

Turk.

²

abbreviation

1. Turkey.

2. Turkic. Also Turk

3. Turkish. Also Turk

Turk

¹

/ tɜːk /

noun

1. a native, inhabitant, or citizen of Turkey

2. a native speaker of any Turkic language, such as an inhabitant of Turkmenistan or Kyrgyzstan

3. obsolete,  a violent, brutal, or domineering person

Turk.

²

abbreviation

1. Turkey

2. Turkish

Other Word Forms

• non-Turk noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Turk¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Old French Turc, Middle English Turke, Turque, ultimately from Turkish Türk; compare Medieval Latin Turcus, Medieval Greek Toûrkos, Middle French turc, Italian turco, Persian turk

Example Sentences

During World War One, Britain invaded Palestine, driving out the Ottoman Turks, and it facilitated its promise for a Jewish homeland made in the 1917 Balfour Declaration.

Read more on BBC

Turkish authorities argued the doner should be viewed a national dish that spread to Europe through the migration of Turks.

Read more on BBC

It was a time when the Turkish Baybasins gang, also known as the Hackney Turks, or Bombacilars, had a fearsome reputation.

Read more on BBC

Police recordings revealed Riley's links to the Tottenham Turks, including talks about Izzet Eren, who was shot in Moldova on 10 July last year in what was believed to be a revenge attack.

Read more on BBC

Many Turks are feeling the chill, according to Berk Esen, associate professor of political science at Istanbul's Sabanci University, which has a liberal reputation.

Read more on BBC