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.

Turkey oak

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

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10

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

The fact is, the name forked-leaf oak is applied oftener to the turkey oak (Quercus catesbæi) than to this one.

Tests of the wood to determine its character and qualities do not justify so low an estimate of turkey oak.

Woodlots of turkey oak planted in fertile land would probably do as well as most of the southern red oaks under like conditions.

Turkey-Oak is so call'd from a small Acorn it bears, which the wild Turkeys feed on.

April 20, 2024flabbergast

[flab-er-gast ]

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