Turkey Carpets are made entirely of wool, the loops being larger than those of Brussels carpeting, and always cut; the cutting of the yarn gives the surface the appearance of velvet.
Turkey-stitch (point de Turquie). A kind of carpet made at the Savonnerie, established 1627.
Turma, R. A squadron of legionary cavalry; it consisted of thirty-two men commanded by a decurion, and led under a vexillum.
Turnbull’s Blue. A light and delicate variety of Prussian blue.
Turner’s Yellow. An oxychloride of lead, known also as patent yellow, and Cassell yellow.
Turquoise. A valuable blue gem for ornamental purposes. (S.) Fossil ivory impregnated with copper. (F.)
Turrets, Arch. (Fr. tourette, a small tower). Towers of great height in proportion to their diameter, and large pinnacles, are called turrets; these often contain staircases, and are sometimes crowned with small spires. Large towers often have turrets at their corners.
Turricula, R. (dimin. of turris). A small tower; also, a dice-box in the form of a tower, to which the Greeks applied the term of pyrgus (πύργος). Turricula has a synonym Fritillus (q.v.).
Turriger, R. Bearing a tower; the term applies both to an elephant and a ship of war when thus armed.
Turris, Tower. In a general sense, any building or collection of buildings either lofty in themselves or built upon an elevation, and thence, fortifications, such as a tower of defence, the tower of a city gate or a castle, a Donjon (q.v.).