Turf (turf), n.; pl. Turfs (#), Obs. Turves (#). [AS. turf; akin to D. turf peat, G. torf, OHG. zurba turf, Sw. & Icel. torf turf, peat, Dan. torv, Skr. darbha a kind of grass, a tuft of grass. ] 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 Zool., 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.
© Webster 1913.
Turf, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Turfed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Turfing.] To cover with turf or sod; as, to turf a bank, of the border of a terrace.
A. Tucker.
© Webster 1913. | 
