turf
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
On the turf; persons who keep running horses, or attend and bet at horse-races, are said to be on the turf.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “turf” mean?
On the turf; persons who keep running horses, or attend and bet at horse-races, are said to be on the turf.
Is “turf” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.