Word Study
turnip
CIDE DICTIONARY
turnip, n. [OE. turnep; probably fr. turn, or F. tour a turn, turning lathe + OE. nepe a turnip, AS. n, L. napus. Cf. Turn, v. t. , Navew.].
The edible, fleshy, roundish, or somewhat conical, root of a cruciferous plant (Brassica campestris , var. Napus ); also, the plant itself. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
turnip, n.
1 a cruciferous plant, Brassica rapa, with a large white globular root and sprouting leaves.
2 this root used as a vegetable.
3 a large thick old-fashioned watch.
1 a cruciferous plant, Brassica rapa, with a large white globular root and sprouting leaves.
2 this root used as a vegetable.
3 a large thick old-fashioned watch.
Idiom
turnip-top the leaves of the turnip eaten as a vegetable.
Derivative
turnipy adj.
Etymology
earlier turnep(e) f. neep f. L napus: first element of uncert. orig.
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