The term 'TURKISH' can be found in three crossword solutions: OTTOMAN (7 letters), TATARIC (7 letters), and TOWELBATHRUG (12 letters). The OTTOMAN Empire was a powerful state that lasted from 1299 to 1922, and was centered in what is now Turkey. The Tatars are a Turkic-speaking ethnic group who live mainly in Russia and Central Asia. Finally, the Turkish towel, or pestemal, is a flat, lightweight cotton fabric used as a bath rug or beach towel.