n. 1 a cruciferous plant, Brassica rapa, with a large white globular root and sprouting leaves. 2 this root used as a vegetable. 3 a large thick old-fashioned watch. turnip-top the leaves of the turnip eaten as a vegetable. turnipy adj.
[ earlier turnep(e) f. neep f. L napus: first element of uncert. orig. ]