v. Obs. rare. Also 6 turquen, turkin. [Etymology uncertain. Taken by Skeat as a deriv. of F. torquer to twist, ‘to writhe, wreath, wind in, wrap about’ (Cotgr.), ad. L. torquēre to twist; but there are difficulties both of form and of sense; see TURKESS(E, TURKISH v.
Possibly f. TURK1 + -EN5, referring to the action of the Turks in transforming Christian churches into mosques, or from the Koran being regarded as a transformation or perversion of the Bible.)]
trans. = TURKESS(E v. 2.
1575. Gascoigne, Making of Verse, in Steele Gl., etc. (Arb.), 37. This poeticall licence is a shrewde fellow, it maketh wordes longer, shorter, of mo sillables, of fewer, newer, older … and to conclude it turkeneth all things at pleasure, for example, ydone for done. Ibid. (1575), Poesies, Ep. to Rev. Divines, Wks. 1907, I. 7. You shall find it now in this second imprinting so turquened and turned, so clensed from all unclenly wordes.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xxiii. (1592), 353. They turkining themselues as much as they can into Gods, that is to say into Angels of light, to beguile our sence and imagination with strange vanities. Ibid., xxiv. 368. If they chaunce to stumble vpon some good saying for maners or for the life of man, they turkin it a thousand waies to make it seem good for thir purpose.
1607. T. Rogers, 39 Art., Pref. § 28. Not either Articles of his owne, lately deuised; or the old newly turkened: but the very Articles agreed vpon by the Archbishops and Bishops.
