Turf

n.; pl. Turfs Obs. Turves [ 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. √242. ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

At his head a grass-green turf. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Greek historian sets her in the field on a high heap of turves. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Peat, especially when prepared for fuel. See Peat. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Race course; horse racing; -- preceded by the. “We . . . claim the honors of the turf.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]