turnip

noun

1. The white root of a yellow-flowered plant, Brassica rapa, grown as a vegetable and as fodder for cattle.

   “The ancient Roman gastronomists considered the turnip, when prepared in the following manner, a dish fit for epicures: "After boiling, extract the water from them, and season with cummin, rue, or benzoin, pounded in a mortar; afterward add honey, vinegar, gravy, and boiled grapes. Allow the whole to simmer, and serve."”

   “In general, beets, carrots, and turnips are all of aphrodisiac value in erotic dietary.”

   “The turnip is one of the lordliest vegetables in the world; its broth is practically a soup in itself.”

2. (Atlantic-Canada, Cornwall, Ireland, Northern-England, Scotland)The yellow root of a related plant, the swede or Brassica napus.
3. (Hong-Kong)The white root of Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus, also known as a daikon.
4. (Malaysia, Singapore, broadly)The root of the yam bean, Pachyrhizus erosus; jicama.
5. (abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, dated)Clipping of turnip watch
6. (slang)A fool or simpleton.

   “"Dost thou not believe, thou twittering turnip?"”

   “You absolute turnip, you. Hannah replaced the clipboard in her lap and pretended to write Very Serious notes. Thank God it was dark in the rear of the studio. No one could see the tomato-colored tidal wave surging up her neck.”

verb

1. (transitive)To plant with turnips.

   “This identical field has been turniped before, and to good account, in a favourable winter.”

2. (transitive)To feed or graze (livestock) on turnips.

   “The Leicesters and half-breds are purchased by farmers who keep no breeding stock: they are well turniped during the winter, and clipped and fattened in the following season.”

   “This system of turniping is found to encourage the growth and muscular development of young stock.”