Food Words: Turkey
Ornithological and geographical confusion appear to be responsible for the common names of this bird, which came late to Europe. The turkey was first seen by the Span-ish in Mexico around 1518, and they named it with variants on the word pavo, “pea fowl.” In most other European languages its early names referred to India: French dinde, dindon (d’Inde, “of India”), German Kalikutische Hahn (“hen of Calicut,” an Indian port), Italian pollo d’India (“fowl of India”). The turkey was indeed in India by 1615, so it could well have been introduced to much of Europe via Asia. The English may reflect a vague impression that the bird came from some outpost of the exotic Food Words: Turkey connection with Turkey goes back quite early, to around 1540, and is more obscure. It Ottoman Empire, which originated in and was identified with Turkey.