turf / tərf/ • n. (pl. turfs or turves / tərvz/ ) 1. grass and the surface layer of earth held together by its roots: they walked across the springy turf. ∎ Brit. a piece of such grass and earth cut from the ground. ∎  peat used for fuel.2. (the turf) horse racing or racecourses generally: he spent his money gambling on the turf.3. inf. an area regarded as someone's personal territory; one's home ground: the team will play Canada on their home turf this summer. ∎  a person's sphere of influence or activity: we're in similar businesses but we cover different turf.• v. [tr.] [often as adj.] (turfed) cover (a patch of ground) with turf: a turfed lawn.

turf sod of grass; greensward OE; slab of peat XIII. OE turf, corr., with variation of gender and declension, to OS. (Du.) turf, OHG. zurba, zurf, ON, torf(a); Gmc. f. *turb- :- IE. *dṛbh-. the base of Skr. darbhá- tuft of grass.