Turkey red

noun

A durable red dye originally obtained from madder and later prepared chemically.

Similar
TurkeyTurkey colorcoloredalizarine red
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Meanings

nounTurkey red (countable and uncountable, plural Turkey reds)

plural Turkey reds

  1. countablehistoricaluncountableA durable red dye originally obtained from madder and later prepared chemically.
  2. countableuncountableA vibrant shade of red similar to the dye.
adjectiveTurkey red (comparative more Turkey red, superlative most Turkey red)

comparative more Turkey red · superlative most Turkey red

  1. Dyed with Turkey red.
  2. Coloured Turkey red or (inexact) a similarly vibrant red.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
TurkeyTurkey color
Similar
TurkeyTurkey colorcolored

nouna bright orange-red color produced in cotton cloth with alizarine dye

Similar
alizarine red
Broader
redredness
Also see
adrianople redturkey

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From the origin of the red dye in the Ottoman Empire ("Turkey").

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Turkey red. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Turkey%20red

MLA

“Turkey red.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Turkey%20red. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Turkey red,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Turkey%20red.

Source: Turkey red on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.