The Collaborative International Dictionary
Turf \Turf\ (t[^u]rf), n.; pl. Turfs, Obs. Turves. [AS. turf; akin to D. turf peat, G. torf, OHG. zurba turf, Sw. & Icel. torf turf, peat, Dan. t["o]rv, Skr. darbha a kind of grass, a tuft of grass. [root]242.]
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That upper stratum of earth and vegetable mold which is filled with the roots of grass and other small plants, so as to adhere and form a kind of mat; sward; sod.
At his head a grass-green turf.
--Shak.The Greek historian sets her in the field on a high heap of turves.
--Milton. Peat, especially when prepared for fuel. See Peat.
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Race course; horse racing; -- preceded by the. ``We . . . claim the honors of the turf.''
--Cowper.Note: Turf is often used adjectively, or to form compounds which are generally self-explaining; as, turf ashes, turf cutter or turf-cutter, turf pit or turf-pit, turf-built, turf-clad, turf-covered, etc.
Turf ant (Zo["o]l.), a small European ant ( Formica flava) which makes small ant-hills on heaths and commons.
Turf drain, a drain made with turf or peat.
Turf hedge, a hedge or fence formed with turf and plants of different kinds.
Turf house, a house or shed formed of turf, common in the northern parts of Europe.
Turf moss a tract of turfy, mossy, or boggy land.
Turf spade, a spade for cutting and digging turf, longer and narrower than the common spade.
Usage examples of "turf house".
Our king lies stiff and cold in his turf house, and treachery sits in the place of honor.
He strode quickly toward the fold in the hills where her little turf house had stood.
The turf house smelled of the compost heap that lay just outside the door and of the cattle that were housed in the room beyond.
Reeking smoke still drifted down from the chimney hole of the squat, turf house, but there was no one in sight.