The insult “turkey” has a few possible origins, though the exact derivation is unclear. Some possibilities include comparing a silly or stupid person to the bird, referencing the bird’s association with Thanksgiving and Pilgrims, or implying cowardice like a frightened turkey. The insult likely emerged in American English in the late 19th or early 20th century. Though the specifics are hazy, “turkey” has endured as a fun and inoffensive way to gently mock someone for a foolish action or lapse in judgment.
What does it mean to call someone a turkey?
Calling someone a “turkey” is a humorous way to imply they are foolish, silly, incompetent, or dumb. It suggests they did something dumb or are prone to lapses in judgment. Though not the most scathing insult, it has a teasing connotation when used playfully between friends. It’s more mocking than truly mean-spirited.
Some example uses:
– “Stop goofing around, you turkey!”
– “Wow, you really messed that up. You’re such a turkey sometimes.”
– “Your dad’s idea to raft down the river was so turkey.”
So it generally pokes fun at someone’s temporary silliness or eccentricity, rather than being a serious character assessment. It’s not meant to cause real offense or hurt someone’s feelings.
What are the possible origins of using turkey as an insult?
There are a few theories about how “turkey” became a joking insult:
Comparing to the bird’s perceived personality
Turkeys have a reputation for being clumsy, flighty, and not so bright. Some sources suggest people compared silly individuals to the bumbling nature of a turkey. Calling someone a “turkey” became a way to tease them over their questionable intellect.
Poking fun at Thanksgiving
Turkeys are the centerpiece of many Thanksgiving meals. Some conjectures point to the use of “turkey” as a way to liken someone to the dumb bird depicted in Thanksgiving cartoons and advertisements. Their association with pilgrims and early American stereotypes may have contributed to this joking connotation.
Suggesting cowardice
Another idea is that turkeys were seen as easily frightened birds that ran and fluttered away from any potential danger. So calling a person a “turkey” disparaged their courage by comparing them to a bird viewed as cowardly and skittish. However, this origin is less documented than the others.
Referencing Turkey the country
There is also a theory that “turkey” emerged from comparing a stupid person to the perceived negatives of Turkish people. However, most etymologists reject this xenophobic origin. There’s little evidence to substantiate Turkey the country factoring into the meaning.
When did this insult emerge and gain popularity?
Although the precise origin remains unclear, most sources suggest “turkey” arose as an insult in the late 1800s or early 1900s in the U.S.
Some key early examples include:
- In the 1870s, turkey was slang for “a silly, slow-witted person” according to John S. Farmer’s book “Slang and Its Analogues.”
- The 1887 novel “Saint Twel’mo” by Maurice Thompson wrote: “You great turkey, where are you off to now?”
- In 1909, the insult appeared in the novel “The Major” by Ralph Connor: “The old turkey, he’s all hunky.”
So by the early 20th century, calling someone a “turkey” was established slang implying a fool or stupid person. It grew more popular in following decades and remains a lighthearted insult into the 21st century.
How did turkey become associated with foolishness and silliness in the first place?
There are a few factors that may have contributed to turkeys being associated with buffoonery and stupidity:
Their perceived personality
Turkeys have a reputation for acting clumsy, dimwitted, and cowardly. Their flighty temperament and lack of intelligence may have inspired the insult.
Their role in Thanksgiving cartoons
Cartoon turkeys were often depicted as dumb birds oblivious to the fact that farmers fattened them up for Thanksgiving meals. This may have fueled the connotation of turkeys being laughably foolish.
Their awkward appearance
Turkeys are not the most graceful-looking birds. Their large bodies combined with small heads may have led people to compare them to bumbling fools.
Stereotypes about Pilgrims and Puritans
The turkey’s association with early American stereotypes like Pilgrims and Puritans may have contributed to the insult’s connotation that someone is old-fashioned or foolishly naive.
Their behavior when frightened
Turkeys instinctively run away and make noises when scared. This inclination to flee from danger was perhaps viewed as cowardly or silly.
What breeds of turkeys exist?
There are several different breeds of domesticated turkeys:
Bronze
This is the most common breed of turkey raised for meat. Bronze turkeys have lustrous, metallic feathers that can appear bronze-green.
White Holland
White Holland turkeys have all white feathers and can be either a medium or broad-breasted type. They grow quickly and are a popular commercial breed.
Bourbon Red
Named after Bourbon County, Kentucky, Bourbon Red turkeys have rich, mahogany-colored feathers with white barred markings.
Royal Palm
Royal Palm turkeys are a heritage breed with distinctive white and black patterned plumage. They are slimmer birds originally from Florida.
Narragansett
Narragansett turkeys are named after Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island. They are a heritage breed with green-gray tails, white-tipped feathers, and striking tan-and-brown plumage.
| Breed | Description |
|---|---|
| Bronze | Most common commercial breed, metallic bronze-green feathers |
| White Holland | All white feathers, medium or broad-breasted |
| Bourbon Red | Rich mahogany feathers with white barred markings |
| Royal Palm | White and black patterned feathers, heritage breed originally from Florida |
| Narragansett | Green-gray tail, white-tipped feathers, tan-and-brown plumage |
What are some bizarre facts about turkeys?
Turkeys are more interesting than their insult status suggests. Here are some quirky turkey facts:
They blush when excited
The head of a male turkey can change colors, turning blue, white or red when he is excited. This is how male turkeys blush.
They sleep in trees
Turkeys are very capable fliers and will commonly roost and sleep in trees at night to avoid predators.
They have good vision but poor night vision
Turkeys have excellent daytime vision, allowing them to detect colors and minute movements. But they have very poor vision at night.
They make unusual sounds
Turkeys produce distinctive noises like gobbles, yelps, clucks and purrs. Male turkeys gobble to attract females and establish dominance.
They run fast
On land, turkeys can sprint up to 25 miles per hour. So it’s not easy to catch a fleeing turkey!
They drown in the rain
Turkeys can become disoriented in heavy rain and accidentally drown from looking up into the downpour with open mouths for too long.
Are turkeys intelligent animals?
Despite the insult, wild turkeys are surprisingly intelligent and capable birds in many respects:
Spatial intelligence
Turkeys utilize mental mapping to navigate large ranges of up to 100 square miles and locate food sources or roosts.
Communication skills
Turkeys communicate through a wide range of vocalizations, body language and facial expressions.
Memory
Turkeys remember exact locations, routes, faces and voices, allowing mature birds to evade hunters.
Adaptability
Wild turkeys can adapt to a diverse range of climates and habitats from forests to deserts. Their omnivorous diet also showcases flexibility.
Cunning
Adult turkeys are wary and perceptive, difficult for predators or hunters to capture once they reach maturity. They avoid baited traps quite cleverly.
So evidence suggests turkeys have considerable innate intelligence and reasoning capacities beyond the “birdbrain” reputation their insult implies. Their instincts and cognition equip them well for survival.
What is domesticated turkeys’ relation to wild turkeys?
All domesticated turkeys are descended from the wild turkeys originally indigenous to North America and Mesoamerica. There are six subspecies of wild turkey:
Eastern wild turkey
The most common wild turkey, found throughout the eastern half of the United States. They number around 5.1 million.
Osceola turkey
Lives in pockets of Florida, darker plumage than eastern turkeys. About 80,000 exist.
Rio Grande wild turkey
Inhabits the central plains states, around 1.3 million alive today.
Merriam’s turkey
Found in the Rocky Mountains and northwest U.S., around 315,000 left.
Gould’s turkey
Native to Arizona, New Mexico and northern Mexico. No more than 5,000 remain.
Ocellated turkey
The brightly colored tropical subspecies residing in the Yucatán Peninsula, fewer than 50,000 today.
| Wild Turkey Subspecies | Range | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | Eastern half of U.S. | Around 5.1 million |
| Osceola | Pockets of Florida | Around 80,000 |
| Rio Grande | Central plains U.S. | Around 1.3 million |
| Merriam’s | Rocky Mountains and northwest U.S. | Around 315,000 |
| Gould’s | Arizona, New Mexico, northern Mexico | No more than 5,000 |
| Ocellated | Yucatán Peninsula | Fewer than 50,000 |
These wild turkeys were domesticated by Native Americans and the Spanish starting around 2000 years ago. Selective breeding produced the varieties of domestic turkeys raised on farms today.
How are wild turkeys and domesticated turkeys different?
There are some notable differences between wild turkeys and the domesticated farm birds:
Size
Wild turkeys are smaller and slimmer than commercial domestic turkeys bred for meat. Toms (males) average 16-20 pounds versus domestic toms that can reach 40 pounds.
Coloring
Wild turkeys have drab brown, black and gray mottled feathers as camouflage from predators. Domestic varieties like the Bronze have more striking, iridescent feathers.
Personality
Wild turkeys are wary with excellent perception skills to evade predators. Domestic turkeys may be calmer and more amenable to human handling.
Survival abilities
Wild turkeys can fly short distances up to 55 mph, roost in trees, and outsmart predators. Domestic turkeys are heavier, more docile, and lack these survival adaptations.
Reproduction
Natural selection controls wild turkey reproduction whereas domestic turkeys are bred intentionally for meat production and egg laying.
So while domestic turkeys retain some traits like vocalizations, wild turkeys have retained more agility, cunning and caution thanks to the pressures of the natural world.
Are turkeys still perceived negatively today?
Despite the turkey insult, modern perceptions of turkeys are more positive:
Thanksgiving symbol
Turkeys are now more associated with Thanksgiving meals and holiday cheer than foolishness. Turkey pardoning ceremonies at the White House have furthered their status as icons.
Growing interest in wild turkeys
There is greater appreciation for wild turkeys’ intelligence and unique adaptations among wildlife experts and bird enthusiasts.
Shift away from insulting language
Using animal names like “turkey” as insults has generally fallen out of favor, seen as potentially demeaning.
New research on their cognition
Studies on avian intelligence have overturned assumptions that birds are stupid. Work on turkeys shows evidence of their complex reasoning and communication abilities.
Conservation efforts
Organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation have boosted awareness and protection for wild turkeys through reintroduction programs and managed hunts.
So while the origin of “turkey” as an insult is murky, views on these unique North American birds have become more knowledgeable and appreciative in recent times. Their reputation is being rehabilitated.
Conclusion
The insult “turkey” arose from associations between turkeys and foolishness or cowardice, likely sometime in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Though the exact etymology is unclear, several factors may have fueled the connotation including turkey behavior and appearances, Thanksgiving imagery, and early American stereotypes. Despite this unflattering origin story, modern perspectives on turkeys are shifting in a more positive direction. New research continues to reveal the notable intelligence and adaptability of wild turkeys, overturning unfounded assumptions. And as language evolves, animal insults like “turkey” have generally fallen out of favor. While the insult endures as a lighthearted and inoffensive way to tease someone, views on turkeys themselves trend toward greater respect, interest and protection thanks to more accurate knowledge.
