turf

 
Pronunciation: /təːf/

noun (plural turfs or turves)

[mass noun]
  • 1grass and the surface layer of earth held together by its roots: they walked across the springy turf
  • [count noun] a piece of turf cut from the ground.
  • peat used for fuel: the smell of turf burning on a winter night [as modifier]: a turf fire [count noun]: each turf was cut and stacked
  • 2 (the turf) horse racing or racecourses generally: he spent his money gambling on the turf
  • 3 informal an area or sphere of activity regarded as someone’s personal territory: he did not like poachers on his turf

verb

  • 1 [with object and adverbial] informal, chiefly British force (someone) to leave somewhere: they were turfed off the bus
  • 2 [with object] (often as adjective turfed) cover (a patch of ground) with turf: a turfed lawn

Origin:

Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch turf and German Torf, from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit darbha 'tuft of grass'