turbit

[tur-bit]

noun

1. one of a breed of domestic pigeons having a stout, roundish body, a short head and beak, and a ruffled breast and neck.

turbit

/ ˈtɜːbɪt /

noun

1. a crested breed of domestic pigeon

Word History and Origins

Origin of turbit¹

1680–90; variant of turbot; apparently because, like the fish, the bird is toplike in outline

Word History and Origins

Origin of turbit¹

C17: from Latin turbō spinning top, with reference to the bird's shape; compare _turbot

Example Sentences

Turbit, tur′bit, n. a domestic pigeon having white body, coloured wings, and short beak.

From Project Gutenberg

White soop, turbit, and lobster sos; saddil of Scoch muttn, grous, and M'Arony; wines, shampang, hock, madeiria, a bottle of poart, and ever so many of clarrit.

From Project Gutenberg

But here is a more remarkable fact: I crossed a turbit, which has a frill formed by the feathers being reversed on its breast, with a trumpeter; and one of the young pigeons thus raised showed at first not a trace of the frill, but, after moulting thrice, a small yet unmistakably distinct frill appeared on its breast.

From Project Gutenberg

When fowls, pigeons, or cattle of different colours are crossed, and their offspring change colour as they grow old, or when the crossed turbit acquired the characteristic frill after its third moult, or when purely-bred bantams partially assume the red plumage of their prototype, we cannot doubt that these qualities were from the first present, though latent, in the individual animal, like the characters of a moth in the caterpillar.

From Project Gutenberg

The Turbit, with its characteristic frill and bearing its present name, is described by Willughby in 1677; and the bill is said to be like that of the bullfinch,—a good comparison, but now more strictly applicable to the beak of the Barb.

From Project Gutenberg