Turnip

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈtɜː.nɪp/
• US IPA: /ˈtɜ˞.nɪp/

Origin

From turnepe, probably from turn (due to round shape, as though turned on a lathe) + Middle English nepe, from Old English næp, from Latin napus.

Online Etymology Dictionary

Cognate to neep; see also parsnip.

Full definition of turnip

Noun

1. The white root of a yellow-flowered plant, Brassica rapa, grown as a vegetable and as fodder for cattle.
2. (Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, Atlantic Canada) The yellow root of a related plant, the swede or Brassica napus.

Synonyms

• (Brassica rapa) summer turnip, swede (Ireland, Northern England, Scotland), tumshie (Scotland), white turnip (Cornwall, Scotland)

Derived terms

• fall off the turnip truck
• Swedish turnip
• turnip flea
• turnip fly