Dictionary

turkeyling en · NOUN

Etymology

From turkey + -ling.

Meanings

1. A young or little turkey; a poult.
   • "How are the turkeylings?" says I. "One of 'em's going to die." 1926, Louise Imogen Guiney, Grace Cecily Guiney, Letters of Louise Imogen Guiney:
   • The four turkeylings traveled in a bigger, heavier box. About a third of the way up the mountain, it started to pour. I was soaked. Worse, the turkeys were soaked. Turkeylings are notorious for being delicatissima. 2011, Brent Zimmerman, Get Your Goat:
   • As he spoke, another cruel rap, a faint peep, and a third turkeyling lay stretched upon the green. The hen-mother by this time had taken the alarm, and hastily called off the remainder of her family. 1872, Making of America Project, Harper's magazine:
   • The drake beamed at his children and wagged his stumpy tail proudly. "Well done! What a fine family you've given me. Good grief! That's not one of mine!" … large, ugly brother. "He's a turkeyling! " "Of course he. The Ugly Duckling. 1987, Animal fairy tales

Forms