turkey trot

¹

noun

1. a round dance, danced by couples, properly to ragtime, the step being a springy walk with little or no bending of the knees, and accompanied by a swinging motion of the body with shoulder movements up and down.

turkey-trot

²

[ tur-kee-trot ]

verb (used without object)

, tur·key-trot·ted, tur·key-trot·ting.

1. to dance the turkey trot.

turkey trot

noun

1. an early ragtime one-step, popular in the period of World War I

Word History and Origins

Origin of turkey trot¹

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40

Example Sentences

“Why mess up a good thing? This isn’t a turkey trot.”

From New York Times

Mentally she was working up to a turkey trot in November with her husband and son, but her marathon dreams were over.

From New York Times

There are no high school football games, no marching bands, no turkey trots or parades, and no Santa Claus waving at our northern neighbors from a giant sleigh gliding down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

From Salon

Most turkey trots in Southern California are keeping the race tradition alive with virtual runs.

From Los Angeles Times

One of Seidel’s favorite traditions is to wear a turkey costume at a turkey trot in her native Wisconsin.

From New York Times