TURKEY

Wild Word Friday!

Now that we’re all probably still eating leftovers, I thought it would be interesting to look at the word TURKEY.  I’m referring to the bird not the dork. 

For some reason, I’ve always thought the word TURKEY had its roots in some Native American language, and it was just coincidental that a country also shared that name.   It turns out not to be coincidence at all.  Like other names for other North American birds (the robin, for example), TURKEY referred to a bird common in England before it ever referred to the North American version — Meleagris gallopavo, in scientific lingo, if you’re into scientific lingo.

It seems that a bird of African origin, which was known as the Guinea Cock, was imported to  England and became a fairly common exotic bird there.    Because Europeans thought it was imported from the country of  Turkey (it wasn’t, but that’s beside the point) it began to be called a turkey cock.  The turkey cock has a similar appearance to the good old North American Meleagris gallopavo.   So when the Pilgrims “discovered” and began to eat M. gallopavo, they used the name TURKEY as a designation, and it stuck. 

Of course, our frozen storebought TURKEYs aren’t exactly that  same bird, as anyone who has tried to cook and eat a wild TURKEY will tell you.  There’s a reason for the saying, “tough old bird.”  And another reason to respect the Pilgrims.  No preplucked, prebasted, pop-up timered, corn-fed Thanksgiving TURKEYs for them.   Lots of reasons for gratitude, right? 

Q4U:  How do you use your leftover TURKEY?   I’d love some new ideas!

Blessings!  Sue