List of English Words of Turkic Origin - T

T

Taiga

from Russian taiga, of Turkic origin; akin to Teleut taiga "rocky, mountainous terrain", Turkish dağ "mountain"; Mongolian origin is also possible.

Taramasalata

from modern Greek taramas "preserved roe", from Turkish tarama "preparation of soft roe or red caviar" + salata "salad".

Taranchi

from Chagatai Taranci, literally "a farmer".

Tarantass

from Russian tarantas, which is from Kazan Tatar tarıntas.

Tarbagan

from Russian, which is from Teleut. A rodent

Tarbush

from Arabic tarbūsh, from Ottoman Turkish terposh, probably from Persian sarposh "headdress" (equivalent to sar "head" + pūsh "covering"), by association with Turkish ter "sweat". A tasseled cap of cloth or felt, usually red, that is worn by Muslim men either by itself or as the inner part of the turban.

Tarkhan

from Old Turkic tarkan, a privileged class.

Tarpan

from Russian, which is from Kirghiz or Kazakh tarpan.

Tartar

from Persian Tatar, of Turkic origin. A ferocious or violent person.

Tau-saghyz

from Russian tau-sagyz, from Turkic tau-sagız, from tau "mountain" + sagız "gum, rubber".

Tavla

from Turkish tavla, a version of the board game backgammon.

Tekke

from Turkish tekke, a dervish monastery.

Tenge

from Kazakh teŋge "coin, ruble".

Tepe

from Turkish tepe, literally "a hill, summit". An artificial mound.

Terek

from Terek, river of southeast Russia, which is from Balkar Terk. A sandpiper of the Old World breeding in the far north of eastern Europe and Asia and migrating to southern Africa and Australia and frequenting rivers.

Theorbo

from Italian tiorba, which is from Turkish torba "a bag".

Toman

from Persian تومان, which is from Turkic tümen, "a unit of ten thousand".

Tovarich

from Russian tovarishch, from Old Russian tovarishch, sing. of tovarishchi, "business associates", which is from Old Turkic tavar ishchi, "businessman, merchant" : tavar, "wealth, trade" + ishchi, "one who works" (from ish, "work, business").

Tughra

from Turkish tuğra, an elaborate monogram formed of the Sultan's name and titles.

Tungus

from Russian, from East Turkic tunguz, "wild pig, boar", from Old Turkic tonguz.

Turk

from Turkish türk, which has several meanings in English.

Turki

from Persian turki, from Turk, "Turk", from Turkish Türk.

Turquoise

from Middle English Turkeys, from Anglo-French turkeise, from feminine of turkeis Turkish, from Turc Turkish.

Tuzla

from Turkish tuzla, from the name of Lake Tuz in Turkey. A central Anatolian rug.

Tzatziki

from modern Greek tsatsiki, which is from Turkish cacık.