Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “turps” come from?

turps (English) comes from English turpentine, from Middle English turbentine, from Ancient Greek τερέβινθος, from Ancient Greek τέρμινθος — terebinth; swelling like the fruit of the...

turps (English): Turpentine or turpentine substitute; Any...

Definitions

  1. Turpentine or turpentine substitute; Any...

Ancestry of “turps”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishturpentineA volatile essential oil obtained from the wood...
2Middle EnglishturbentineAlternative form of terebentyne
3Ancient Greekτερέβινθοςterebinth tree
4Ancient Greekτέρμινθοςterebinth; swelling like the fruit of the...

Words derived from “turps”

  • turpsy
Every word from Ancient Greek τέρμινθος →