Turf (tûrf), n.; pl.Turfs (#), Obs. Turves (#). [AS. turf; akin to D. turf peat, G. torf, OHG. zurba turf, Sw. & Icel. torf turf, peat, Dan. törv, Skr. darbha a kind of grass, a tuft of grass. √242.] 1. 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.
2. Peat, especially when prepared for fuel. See Peat.
3. Race course; horse racing; — preceded by the. “We... claim the honors of the turf.” Cowper.
☞ 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(Zoöl.), 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.