turkey oak

noun

any of several oaks, as Quercus cerris, of Eurasia, or Q. laevis and Q. incana, of the southern U.S., that grow on dry, sandy barrens.

Origin of turkey oak

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for turkey oak

Historical Examples

Turkey-Oak is so call'd from a small Acorn it bears, which the wild Turkeys feed on.
A New Voyage to Carolina
John Lawson

British Dictionary definitions for turkey oak

Turkey oak

noun

an oak tree, Quercus cerris, of W and S Europe, with deeply lobed hairy leaves

Word Origin

C18: so called because its acorns are often eaten by turkeys

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012