Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Immediate, complete withdrawal from something on which one has become dependent, such as an addictive drug.
  • adverb Immediately and without gradual reduction of use.
  • adverb Frankly or directly; without mincing words.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The sudden and complete withdrawal of a dependent substance, especially of a drug
  • noun The physiological effects of such a withdrawal
  • adverb idiomatic Not gradually; all at once. Refers especially to quitting a habit by force of will rather than by a gradual reduction.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun complete and abrupt withdrawal of all addictive drugs or anything else on which you have become dependent
  • noun a blunt expression of views

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Probably from the serving of cold roast turkey as a dish needing no preparation .]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the goose bumps that people get when they're cold turkey.

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Examples

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    September 23, 2008