Why is the country turkey called turkey?

A country turkey is probably called a turkey because it is a species of turkey that can be found in the country and the country folks like calling them turkey. Don't ask me what they call city turkey. read more

The country was first. Turkey has been known as "land of the Turks" since the 1300s at least. Turkeys (the birds) are originally from the Americas. The Europeans knew a similar looking and tasting bird, known nowadays as Guinea fowl, originally from Africa but introduced through the Ottoman Empire, who was called the turkey-cock or turkey-hen. read more