TURFINGS

TURFING

Turf"ing, n.

Definition: The act or process of providing or covering with turf. Turfing iron, or Turfing spade, an implement for cutting, and paring off, turf.

TURF

Turf (tûrf), n.; pl. Turfs, Obs. Turves. Etym: [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. sq. root242.]

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.

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 (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.

Turf, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Turfed; p. pr. & vb. n. Turfing.]

Definition: To cover with turf or sod; as, to turf a bank, of the border of a terrace. A. Tucker.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition