Turn sb. World English Historical Dictionary

Turn sb. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1916, rev. 2022. Turn sb. Forms: 3– turn; also 3–7 turne, 4–6 torn, torne, 4–7 tourne, 5–7 tourn, 6 terne. [Partly a. AF. *torn, turn, tourn, = OF. tor, tour, F. tour (= Pr. torn, tor, Cat. torn, Sp., Pg., It. torno):—L. torn-us (acc. -um), a. Gr. τόρνος turning-lathe. Cf. for the form, F. jour, AF. jorn:—L. diurn-um. In English, partly treated as n. of action from TURN v. (So OF. torne, tourne, fr. tourner vb.) See also TOUR sb. from the later French form.]

1   I.  Rotation, and connected senses. (Cf. TURN v. I, II.)

2   1.  The action of turning about an axis or center, as a wheel; rotation, revolution. Now rare.

3 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 79. On walkenes turn wid dai and niȝt Of foure and twenti time riȝt.

4 c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 5470. Froward Fortune…, Whanne high estatis she doth reverse, And maketh her to tumble doune Off hir whele, with sodeyn tourne.

5 1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xxiv. 8. Fortoun sa fast hir quheill dois cary; Na tyme bot turne can [v.r. in turning can it] tak rest.

6 c. 1680.  Hickeringill, Hist. Whiggism, II. Wks. 1716, I. 111. Fortune’s-wheel … is always … upon the Turn.

7 1879.  J. Martineau, Hours Th. (1886), II. i. 6. You may expect a prize from the turn of a lottery.

8   2.  An act of turning: a movement of rotation (total or partial); esp. a single revolution, as of a wheel.

9 1481.  Caxton, Myrr., III. viii. 148. The sonne … gooth euery yere aboute the heuen one torne.

10 1596.  Davies, Orchestra, lxxi. A gallant daunce,… With loftie turnes and capriols.

11 1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., I. vi. The Giddy turns of Fortune’s Wheel.

12 1687.  A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 35. He darts his Zagaye … with a turn of hand that doubles the force of it.

13 1759.  Smeaton, in Phil. Trans., LI. 157. The turns of the sails in a given time will be as the square of the velocity of the wind.

14 1849.  Clough, Dipsychus, II. ii. 32. And hear the soft turns of the oar!

15 1872.  Ruskin, Fors Clav. (1896), I. xix. 370. In a few turns of the hands of the … clock.

16   b.  (Roasted, done, etc.) to a turn, i.e., exactly to the proper degree, precisely right: orig. in reference to the turns of the spit.

17 1780.  Mackenzie, Mirror, No. 93, ¶ 12. The beef was roasted to a turn.

18 1864.  D. G. Mitchell, Sev. Stor., 11. The chops were done to a turn.

19   c.  Turn of the scale(s, the slight advantage given to the buyer by which the article sold overbalances the weight and brings down the scale-pan. Hence, a very slight degree or amount, a very little (just enough to turn the scale: see TURN v. 58).

20   In quot. 1888 the turn of a hair = a close chance, a ‘narrow shave.’ But cf. not to turn a hair, in HAIR sb. 8 n.

21 1888.  Century Mag., May, 127/1. It was the turn of a hair that they hadn’t buried him alive.

22 1890.  ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 218. All that’s a turn too good for making slaughter-yard bacon, does for the Chinamen.

23   3.  A brain-disease of sheep and cattle, caused by a hydatid, and characterized by giddiness: = GID1. Also transf. a beast affected with this (quot. 1658).

24 1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 62, heading. The turne, and remedy therfore.

25 1651.  Manchester Crt. Leet Rec. (1887), IV. 51. Sellinge a beast … yett had the turne. Ibid. (1658), 243. Sellinge parte of a Turne which was not Markettable.

26 1718.  Bp. Hutchinson, Witchcraft, ix. (1720), 162. Twirl like a Calf that hath the Turn.

27 1805.  R. W. Dickson, Pract. Agric., II. 1168. The Turn or Giddy is a disorder with which these animals [sheep] are often seized.

28   4.  A movement round something, a twist; spec. Naut. an act of passing a rope once round a mast or other object.

29 1743.  Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 115. All Hands haul’d, took a Turn round the Main-Mast, and went aft.

30 1881.  Whitehead, Hops, 35. The young bines only take short turns, and cannot lay hold of supports which are stout at the base.

31 1882.  Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 256. The blocks … act like a sailor’s ‘turn and a half.’

32   5.  Mus. A melodic ornament consisting of a group of three (four, or five) notes, viz. the principal note (on which it is performed) and the notes one degree above and below it.

33   In the common or direct turn, the note above precedes, and that below follows, the principal note; in the inverted turn or back-turn, the note below precedes and that above follows; in either case, the principal note is repeated at the end, and sometimes also precedes. Turn of a shake: see quot. 1881 s.v. SHAKE sb.1 5.

34 1801.  Busby, Dict. Mus. Ibid. (1818), Gram. Mus., 143. Full, or Double Turn. Partial Turn. Inverted Turn.

35 1868.  Browning, Ring & Bk., I. 1210. Clavecinist debarred his instrument, He yet thrums—shirking neither turn nor trill,… on dumb table-edge.

36   6.  The condition of being, or direction in which something is, twisted or convoluted; hence, a portion or ‘length’ of something of a convoluted or twisted form, corresponding to one whole revolution; a (single) coil or twist; a round (of coiled rope, etc.).

37 1669.  Ray, in Phil. Trans., IV. 1011. Observations Concerning the odd Turn of some Shell-snailes … The Turn of the wreaths is from the right hand to the left.

38 1678.  Lond. Gaz., No. 1269/4. A dapple gray Mare,… a feather under the mane, two turns in the forehead.

39 1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VII. 32. Its convolutions are more numerous. The garden snail has but five turns at the most; in the sea snail the convolutions are sometimes … ten.

40 1827.  D. Johnson, Ind. Field Sports, 71. Wound round with a few turns of fine silk.

41 1884.  Higgs, Magn. & Dynamo-Electr. Machines, 214. We can … calculate the length … of the turns wound on a magnetic core, if we divide the length of the coil by the number of turns.

42   7.  Something that turns or spins round; a rotatory apparatus or contrivance. a. A lathe; now only applied to a watchmaker’s lathe, also called a pair of turns. b. A spinning-wheel, windlass, or the like; in quot. 1578, a top. ? Obs. exc. dial. = TURN-TABLE 2.

43   a.  1483.  Cath. Angl., 397/2. A Turne of a turnour, tornus.

44 1580.  Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Vn tour..., a turne, as boule faite au tour, a boule made at the turne.

45 1668.  Phil. Trans., III. 795. An Artist, that polishes Optick-Glasses on a Turn.

46 1884.  F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 202. The wheel … is put in a pair of turns. Ibid., 205. The hollows of small pinions are often polished in the turns.

47   b.  c. 1564.  in Noake, Worc. Relics (1877), 10. A spynynge turne and a spolynge turne.

48 1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, VI. vi. 664. Almost like to a little Turne or Peare, brode beneath, and narrow aboue.

49 1675.  Phil. Trans., X. 452. It shot off the Turne at the mouth of the Pit.

50 1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, III. 342/1. An Engine called a Turne, or the Turne Engine … by which great Weights are lifted up.

51 1870.  R. S. Hawker, Footpr. in Far Cornw. (1903), 145. The mother stood by her turn or wheel, and span.

52   c.  a. 1668.  Lassels, Voy. Italy (1670), II. 71. A grate … where … infants are put into a sguar hole of a Turne, and so turned in by night.

53 1808.  Lady Jerningham, Lett. (1896), I. 321. Her victuals were put in a turn, like at a Convent.

54   II.  Change of direction or course, and connected senses. (Cf. TURN v. III., IV., V.)

55   8.  An act of turning or facing another way; a change of direction or posture.

56 1412–20.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 3273. Fortunys variaunce,… And sodeyn torn of hir false visage.

57 1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., II. v. 59. He’s bound vnto Octauia. Cleo. For what good turne? Mes. For the best turne i’ th’ bed.

58 1754.  Richardson, Grandison (1810), IV. xxxii. 237. Her … half-saucy turns upon him.

59 1827.  Scott, Surg. Dau., xiv. Shooting a glance at his … companion by a turn of the eye.

60 1847.  Tennyson, Princess, IV. 375. She … made a sudden turn As if to speak.

61   b.  ‘A step off the ladder at the gallows’ (J.); hanging. Cf. TURN v. 73 d. Now rare or Obs.

62 1631.  Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 49. What man will venture a turne at the Gallows, for a little small siluer chalice?

63   c.  Change of position (by a rotatory movement) of something inanimate, as a die when thrown.

64 1801.  Strutt, Sports & Past., Introd. iii. 4. Stake their liberty upon the turn of the dice.

65 1802.  Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xi. 89. Few people chose to venture a hundred guineas upon the turn of a straw.

66 1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, V. i. ¶ 29. Florence and her dowry therefore were lost … by a turn of the dice.

67   9.  Printing. A reversal of type in composing; also concr. a type turned face downwards so as to produce a square black mark on the proof, in place of a missing letter.

68 1888.  J. H. Hessels, in Encycl. Brit., XXIII. 693/1. The whole of the last reference line is put in upside down…. A ‘turn’ of this magnitude could hardly have occurred [etc.].

69   10.  An act (or, rarely, the action) of turning aside from one’s coarse; deflection, deviation; a round-about course, a detour. Also fig.

70 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4323 (Cott.). Qua folus lang, wit-outen turn, Oft his fote sal find a spurn.

71 c. 1410.  Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxx. Þen he shulde make a longe turne and vmbicaste aboute by somme wayes, or by pathes.

72 c. 1530.  Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 327. And some behelde the hye tournes & tournynges of the sakers & gerfawcons.

73 1685–6.  Stillingfl., Serm. (1698), III. i. 13. True Repentance is the turn of the whole Soul from the Love, as well as the Practice of Sin.

74 1689–90.  Temple, Ess. Heroic Virt., Wks. 1731, I. 222. The Arians … made easy Turns to the Mahometan Doctrines, that professed Christ to have been so great and so divine a Prophet.

75 1874.  Whyte-Melville, Uncle John, xxiii. To follow him through the many turns and windings of his wearisome … chase.

76 1892.  Greener, Breech-Loader, 231. The woodcock … is one of the most difficult birds to bag;… its turn to right and left being most erratic.

77   b.  in phr. at every turn: usually fig. at every change of circumstance (cf. 18); hence, on every occasion, constantly, continually.

78   (Cf. quot. 1579 in TURNING vbl. sb. 4 b.)

79 1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., III. i. 114. Ile leade you about a Round, Through bogge, through bush, through brake,… And neigh, and barke, and grunt,… Like horse, hound, hog,… at euery turne.

80 c. 1685.  South, Serm., Will for Deed (1715), 377. One or both … being used by Men, almost at every Turn, to elude the Precept.

81 1735.  Berkeley, Reasons, etc. § 2, Wks. 1871, III. 340. Should he at every turn say such uncouth things.

82 1876.  Trevelyan, Life & Lett. Macaulay, II. ix. 131. Compelled to disgust his supporters at every turn.

83 1907.  Blackw. Mag., April, 48. Palaces of rusticated stone meet us at every turn.

84   11.  A place or point at which a road, river, or the like turns, or turns off; a curved or bent part of anything; a bend, curve, or angle.

85 1412–20.  Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 1367. Thoruȝ many halle and many riche tour, By many tourn and many diuerse way.

86 1513.  Douglas, Æneis, IX. vii. 26. The horsmen than prekis, and fast furth sprentis To weil beknawin pethis, and turnys [and] wentis.

87 1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, IV. xi. (Roxb.), 438/2. Annoynted … in … the breast, betweene the shoulders, in the Joynts, and turne of the Armes.

88 1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ., Pulse (1778), I. 163. There are two turns; and be so good as to take the second.

89 1816.  Byron, Ch. Har., III. lv. Song iv. The river nobly … flows,… And all its thousand turns disclose Some fresher beauty.

90 1856.  Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxiii. 286. They … walked around the turn of the cape.

91   b, c.  Mining. (See quots.)

92   b.  1681.  T. Houghton, Rara Avis, Gloss. (E.D.S.), Turn, a pit sunk in some part of a drift; if the mine be deep, there is many of these turns, one below another.

93 1824.  Mander, Derbysh. Miner’s Gloss, s.v., Eight, ten, or twelve fathoms is [a depth] common for a Turn; and note, that a vein which is wrought ninety or a hundred fathoms must have divers Turns.

94   c.  1851.  Greenwell, Coal-trade Terms Northumb. & Durh., 55. Turns, curved plates, made of cast metal, used at a branch-off tramway in the workings.

95 1886.  J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 69. Turn,… the arrangement of rails, sleepers and pulleys at a curve on a haulage road.

96   12.  Arch. The curved flank or haunch of an arch, between the key-stone and the foot. ? Obs.

97 1726.  Leoni, trans. Alberti’s Archit., I. 53/2. An Arch is … a conjunction … of wedges, whereof some are call’d the foot…, those in the middle above, the Key…, and those on the sides…, the Turn, or Ribs of the Arch.

98   13.  The act of turning so as to face about or go in the opposite direction; reversal of position or course; turning back. On the turn, in or close upon the act of turning, at the turning-point. Also fig. esp. in turn of the tide, etc. (cf. TIDE sb. 9).

99 1669.  R. Fleming, Fulfill. Script. (1801), I. 302. Antichrist should be at his height and his kingdom upon the turn.

100 1690.  C. Nesse, O. & N. Test., I. 271. The half-turn, from West to North. Ibid. The whole turn from West to East. Ibid. The round turn from sin to Christ.

101 1782.  Miss Burney, Cecilia, VII. v. Whether we shall go on, or take a turn back? Ibid. (1796), Camilla, V. 540. Such turns in the tide of fortune.

102 1862.  R. H. Patterson, Ess. Hist. & Art, 329. Fine Art is at a low ebb. But … the tide is on the turn.

103   14.  Coursing. The act of suddenly turning, as a hare when closely pursued, and making off more or less in the opposite direction, or at least at a considerable angle from the direction of pursuit. Usually in phr. to give the hare (etc.) a turn, said of the hound.

104 1575.  Turberv., Venerie, 246. A Cote is when a Greyhounde goeth endways by his fellow and giueth the Hare a turne (which is called setting a Hare aboute).

105 1670.  Narborough, Jrnl., in Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1694), 30. A Greyhound … give Chase to one of them, and at last gave her a turn.

106 1834.  T. Thacker, Courser’s Comp., I. 183. A turn to be reckoned one point; but if the hare turn not, as it were round, she only wrenches…. A wrench is when she strikes off … at about a right angle.

107 1856.  ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Sports, I. III. viii. 212/1. It is a Turn if the hare is forced more than 45 degrees, and one point is to be scored.

108   † 15.  A journey, expedition, tour, course. Obs.

109 c. 1400.  St. Alexius (Laud 622), 341. He took his tourne From Rome.

110 1570.  Levins, Manip., 191/13. Turne,… cursus.

111 1665.  Chas. II., in Julia Cartwright, Henrietta of Orleans (1894), 224. I am goeing to make a little turne into dorset sheere for 8 or 9 dayes.

112 1734.  H. Walpole, Lett., Oct., in 10th Rep. Hist MSS. Comm., App. I. 254. His design to take a turn into England.

113   b.  A sheriff’s tour, or court: see TOURN.

114   † c.  Venery. Pairing of roe-deer. Obs.

115 1486.  Bk. St. Albans, E iv b. Then shall the Roobucke gendre with the Reo … Then is he calde a Roobucke goyng in his turne.

116 1610.  Guillim, Heraldry, III. xiv. (1660), 166. You shall sey Roe goeth to his Tourne.

117   16.  An act of walking or pacing around or about a limited area, as a park, garden, or sequence of streets; a short walk (or ride) forth and back, esp. by a different route; a stroll.

118 a. 1591.  H. Smith, Wks. (1866), I. 185. Go now and walk in thy galleries, fetch one turn more before thou be turned out of door.

119 1610.  Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 162. A turne or two Ile walke To still my beating minde.

120 1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 160, ¶ 2. I took several Turns about my Chamber.

121 1795.  Lond. Gaz., No. 5336/1. He … has taken a Turn on Horseback on the Isle.

122 1823.  Scott, Quentin D., Introd. This circumstance of explanation and remark … occupied us during two or three turns upon the long terrace.

123 1867.  Trollope, Chron. Barset, xlvii. I will take a turn round the garden.

124   b.  Knitting. See quot.

125 1893.  Eliz. Rosevear, Text-bk. Needlework, etc. 406. A Turn is used for two rows in the same stitches backwards and forwards.

126   III.  Change in general. (See also sense 36.) Cf. TURN v. VI.

127   17.  The action, or an act, of turning or changing; change, alteration, modification; in quot. 1901, change of color. rare exc. as in next sense. On the turn, turning sour, as food; of the weather or the season, changing.

128 1597.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xxxviii. § 1. An admirable facilitie which musique hath to expresse … the turnes and varieties of all passions.

129 1726.  Leoni, trans. Alberti’s Archit., I. 3/2. Sudden Turns and Changes in the Air, from Hot to Cold, and from Cold to Hot.

130 c. 1850.  Arab. Nights (Rtldg.), 251. One … would fain have given a turn to these melancholy ideas by singing a little air to her lute.

131 1901.  L. Malet, Sir R. Calmady, III. ii. The turn of the leaf was very brilliant.

132   18.  spec. A change in affairs, conditions, or circumstances; vicissitude; revolution; esp. a change for better or worse, or the like, at a crisis; hence, sometimes, the time at which such a change takes place. (Often fig. from or associated with 10.)

133 1607.  Shaks., Cor., IV. iv. 12. Oh World, thy slippery turnes! Friends now fast sworn … shall within this houre … breake out To bitterest Enmity.

134 1622.  Bacon, Hen. VII., 217. The State of Christendome might by this late Accident haue a turne.

135 1725.  B. Higgons, Rem. Burnet, I. Hist. Wks. 1736, II. 71. Why the Republicans … made so little Opposition to a Turn of State [the Restoration] which must infallibly be their Ruin.

136 1781.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., xviii. II. 120. The engagement … was maintained with various and singular turns of fortune.

137 1842.  Tennyson, Two Voices, 55. Some turn this sickness yet might take.

138 1859.  G. Meredith, R. Feverel, xxv. In the turn of the year.

139 1892.  W. Ramage, Last Words, 65. Two turns are possible in a crisis: the issue may be favourable or fatal.

140   b.  Turn of life: a name for the time, or symptoms, of cessation of menstruation: = change of life (CHANGE sb. 4 d).

141 1834.  Cooper, Good’s Study Med. (ed. 4), IV. 54, note. When menstruation is about to cease, the period is called ‘the change or turn of life.’

142 1860.  Mayne, Expos. Lex., Turn of Life, popular term for the constitutional disturbance frequently attendant on the cessation of the catamenia.

143   19.  A momentary shock caused by sudden alarm, fright, or the like. colloq. (Cf. 25 b.)

144 1846.  Dickens, Cricket on Hearth, ii. What a hard-hearted monster you must be, John, not to have said so, at once, and saved me such a turn!

145 1860.  Geo. Eliot, Mill on Fl., I. vii. Mrs. Tulliver gave a little scream as she saw her, and felt such a ‘turn’ that she dropt the large gravy-spoon into the dish.

146 1886.  Besant, Children of Gibeon, II. xix. It was only a dream…. But it gave me a terrible turn.

147   IV.  Senses denoting actions of various kinds.

148   † 20.  A movement, device, or trick, by which a wrestler attempts to throw his antagonist: = F. tour.

149 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 280. He iseih hu ueole þe grimme wrastlare of helle breid up on his hupe, & werp, mid þe haunche turn, into golnesse.

150 c. 1325.  Metr. Hom., 83. Bot sinful man gers him [the devil] oft schurne, And castis him wit his awen turne.

151 c. 1400.  Gamelyn, 244. Of all the tornes that he cowthe he schewed him but oon, And caste him on the lefte syde that three ribbes to-brak.

152 1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 162. He is cast in his owne turne, that is likly And yet in all turnes he turnth wonders quikly.

153   21.  A subtle device of any kind; a trick, wile, artifice, stratagem. ? Obs.

154 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 78. Vre strencðe … aȝein þes deofles turnes & his fondunges.

155 c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 796. Y warne þe of a torn … Y leuede ȝond on a buchyment sarasyns wonder fale.

156 a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Huon, lxiv. 221. I thynke to playe hym a tourne.

157 1697.  Vanbrugh, Relapse, V. iii. Come, no equivocations, no Roman turns upon us.

158 1720.  Waterland, Eight Serm., Pref. 30. The unlearned Reader … may be easily imposed upon by little Turns, and Fallacies.

159 1735.  H. Walpole, Lett., 9 Sept., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 259. A variety of artifices and turns.

160   † 22.  An act, deed, proceeding; a deed of valor, feat, exploit. Obs.

161 13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 192. In þe creatores cort com neuer more, Ne neuer see hym with syȝt for such sour tournez.

162 1415.  Hoccleve, To Sir J. Oldcastle, ii. Was no knyghtly turn no where, Ne no manhode shewid in no wyse, But Oldcastel wolde, his thankes, be there.

163 1590.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., IV. 560. He had done greitar turnis nor to ding oute all thair harnis.

164   23.  An act of good or ill will, or that does good or harm to another; a service: almost always with qualifying word, as good turn, a benefit; bad, evil, ill, † shrewd turn, an injury. Cf. to do the turn in 30 b (c).

165 13[?].  Cursor M., 4330 (Cott.). Sco [Potiphar’s wife] waited him wit a werr turn.

166 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Pard. T., 487. Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?

167 c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, lviii. 43. I hafe yit in my mynde a little gude turn at þou did me. Ibid., xcvii. 72. Thow hase done me ane ill turn.

168 1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 98. Wysshe hym a shrewde turne, or saye, I wolde the deuyll had hym.

169 1546.  J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 34. One good tourne askth an other.

170 1647.  H. More, Cupid’s Conflict, xlv. He … Requiteth evil turns with hearty love.

171 1654.  H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 15. One good turn deserves another.

172 1724.  De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 242. Ready … to do us any ill turn.

173 1886.  G. R. Sims, Ring o’ Bells, etc., vii. 198. I did the lass a bad turn when I took her away.

174   24.  A stroke or spell of work; a piece of work; a task, job. Sc. ? Obs. exc. in hand’s turn (see HAND sb. 59).

175 c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxx. (Theodera), 121. Of sorcery scho cuth do, And as scho mycht did turne and chare.

176 1572.  Satir. Poems Reform., xxxii. 35. Thay … brocht thair butter and egges To Edinburgh Croce, and did na vther turne.

177 1609.  Skene, Reg. Maj., II. xli. 36 b. The over-lord sall doe all the turnis and affairs perteining to the heire.

178 1791.  J. Learmont, Poems, 331. My turns are lying to do.

179   25.  A spell or bout of action, a ‘go’; spec. a spell of wrestling; hence, a contest (quot. 1829). Now often associated with sense 28.

180 c. 1380.  Sir Ferumb., 335. Þov hast y dremed of venesoun; þov mostest drynke a torn.

181 a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 2276. I walde … now wrastyll a turne.

182 a. 1500[?].  Chester Pl., vii. 246. A turne to take have I tight with my maistores.

183 1653.  Clarke Papers (Camden), III. 9. Yesterday wee had another turne in the House.

184 1829.  Scott, Anne of G., xxv. We have seen … so many turns betwixt York and Lancaster.

185 1877.  Spurgeon, Serm., XXIII. 643. You young people, I like to see you run, and I am glad to take a turn at it myself.

186 1882.  Furnivall, in E. E. Wills, Ded. 8. Since I first saw the Boxes and their contents at Doctors’ Commons,… I always meant to have a turn at them.

187   b.  An attack of illness, faintness, or the like; also, a fit of passion or excitement. (Cf. 19.)

188 1775.  Abigail Adams, in Fam. Lett. (1876), 97. Jonathan is the only one … in the family who has not had a turn of the disorder.

189 1859.  Tennyson, Merl. & Vivien, 519. Not so much from wickedness, As some wild turn of anger, or a mood Of overstrain’d affection.

190 1913.  Edith Wharton, Custom of Country, I. ii. Her mother … sat in a drooping attitude, her head sunk on her breast, as she did when she had one of her ‘turns’ [of palpitation].

191   c.  pl. A name for monthly courses or catamenia.

192 1857.  Dunglison, Med. Lex., Turns, menses.

193   † 26.  An event, circumstance, occurrence, hap. (Not always clearly distinguishable from 18.) In quot. 1719, a series or course of events (cf. 25). Obs. or merged in other senses.

194 1579.  Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 853/1. Beside the losse of our time, there is a worse turne followeth it, and more deadly.

195 1596.  Spenser, F. Q., VI. x. 18. The shepheard … broke his bag-pipe quight, And made great mone for that unhappy turne.

196 1708.  Mrs. Centlivre, Busie Body, V. i. Pox on’t, this is an unlucky Turn. What shall I say?

197 1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. xiii. 268. To bring this long turn of our affairs to a conclusion.

198   V.  Occasion, etc.

199   † 27.  The occasion or time at which something happens. (Cf. 18, 26.) Obs.

200 13[?].  Cursor M., 19445 (Cott.). He sagh him croised þat ilk turn Þat he for staning suld not skurn.

201 c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 154. Richard at þat turne gaf him a faire Juelle.

202   28.  The time for action or proceeding of any kind that comes round to each individual of a series in succession; (each or any one’s) recurring occasion of action, etc., in a series of acts done, or to be done, by (or to) a number in rotation. (Often in adverbial phrases: see below.)

203 c. 1393.  Chaucer, Scogan, 42. Tak euery man his torn as for his tyme.

204 1586.  B. Young, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., IV. 188. It came to L. Iohns turne to drinke.

205 1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. ii. 105. Then ’twas my turne to fly, and now ’tis thine.

206 1642.  Denham, Sophy, Prol. 10. His turne will come, to laugh at you agen.

207 1697.  Collier, Ess., II. Envy, 113. Every one has a fair Turn to be as Great as he pleases.

208 1719.  Young, Paraphr. Job 5, Wks. 1757, I. 204. At length misfortunes take their turn to reign, And ills on ills succeed.

209 1778.  C. Jones, Hoyle’s Games Impr., 79. If … the last Player plays out of his Turn.

210 1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. II. 553. It was Northumberland’s turn to perform this duty.

211 1885.  Manch. Exam., 12 Feb., 5/3. The manufacturers have had their share [of protection]; now it is the turn of the corn growers and cattle breeders.

212   b.  Phrases. (a) By turns (also † by turn), one after another in regular succession; successively, in rotation. (b) In turn, in turns, each in due succession: = (a). (In turn is also used rhetorically like in one’s turn: see c.) (c) In one’s turn, in one’s due order in the series. (Often also used rhetorically to indicate an act duly or naturally following a similar act on the part of another, but without the notion of pre-arranged succession.) (d) Turn about, turn and turn about (also rarely turn and turn): advb. in turn, by turns, alternately († sometimes preceded by possessive: cf. c); adj. performed in turn, mutual, reciprocal (rare); sb. the action of doing something in turn; alternate or successive turns at doing something.

213   (a).  1538.  Elyot, Vicissatim, by tymes, by tournes. Vicissim, by tourne, nowe one, nowe an nother.

214 1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. iv. 76. [They] by change and turnes … keepe watch.

215 1667.  Milton, P. L., II. 598. The damn’d … feel by turns the bitter change Of fierce extreams.

216 1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 508, ¶ 3. He is by turns outrageous, peevish, froward and jovial.

217 a. 1839.  Praed, Poems (1864), II. 13. He aped each folly of the throng, Was all by turns and nothing long.

218 c. 1850.  Arab. Nights (Rtldg.), 326. They slept only by turns, in order to guard against wild beasts.

219   (b).  1586.  A. Day, Eng. Secretary, II. (1625), 59. The next and last in turne, are those letters familiar.

220 1688.  Prior, Ode, v. Why does each consenting Sign With prudent Harmony combine In Turns to move?

221 1832.  Tennyson, Palace of Art, ‘I send you here a sort of allegory,’ 14. He that shuts Love out, in turn shall be Shut out from Love.

222 1883.  Fenn, Middy & Ensign, xxxv. They would take it in turns to sleep.

223 1908.  [Miss Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 303. The daughters in turn riding on pillion-seat.

224   (c).  1573–80.  Baret, Alv., T 430. By course, or euerie man in his turne, alternis.

225 1710.  W. King, Heathen Gods & Heroes, xi. (1722), 44. Argus … had a hundred Eyes, two of which sleeping in their Turns, the rest continu’d waking.

226 1781.  Cowper, Charity, 74. To see the oppressor in his turn oppressed.

227 1861.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 47. A committee … in which every Hanse town was in its turn represented, according to a fixed cycle.

228 1864.  Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., viii. (1875), 143. Germany became in her turn the instructress of the neighbouring tribes.

229   (d).  1650.  Earl Monm., trans. Senault’s Man bec. Guilty, 357. Being weary of obeying, they fain would command their turn about.

230 1709.  T. Robinson, Vind. Mosaick Syst., 94. The Cock … Sitting upon the Eggs his turn about.

231 1802.  H. Martin, Helen of Glenross, II. 14. To complete the turn-about good offices, Frances can marry your cast-off Sedley.

232 1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xv. Fit to sit low at the board, carve turn about with the chaplain.

233 1833.  T. Hook, Widow & Marquess, vii. Turn-about is all fair play.

234 1834.  [S. Smith], Lett. J. Downing, xxvii. (1835), 176. When one gets drunk, tother keeps sober, and so they take turn and turn about.

235 1840.  E. E. Napier, Scenes & Sports For. Lands, II. v. 174. We took it turn and turn to send out [etc.].

236 1848.  Mrs. Gaskell, M. Barton, ix. (1882), 23/2. We took it turn and turn about to sit up and rock th’ babby.

237   29.  spec. a. The time during which one workman or body of workmen is at work in alternation with another or others; a shift. (Cf. 24.)

238 1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 230. I proposed to visit each company … once in each company’s turn, if wind and weather should permit.

239 1883.  Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, Turn, the hours during which coals, &c., are being raised from the mine.

240 1897.  Worc. County Express, 3 April. In the turn’s work, six hours, Potts would have been able to make 11/2 dozen shades.

241   b.  Theatr. ‘A public appearance on the stage, preceding or following others’ (Farmer, Slang); an item in a variety entertainment; also transf. applied to the performer.

242 1890.  Even. News & Post, 9 June, 1/7. The wire-walking of Mme. Zuila and her little girl … furnishes a clever and interesting turn.

243 1905.  Daily News, 15 July, 8. An animal ‘turn’ new to England will be seen at the Palace Theatre…. Kern and his Mimic Dog have been drawing crowded houses … in Paris.

244 1907.  Times, 30 Jan., 6/6. Under the barring clause the gentleman, who is not a big turn, did not appear.

245   30.  Requirement, need, exigency; purpose, use, convenience. arch. (Chiefly in special phrases; see below.)

246 1573.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 33/1. To serue to burne for many a turne.

247 1602.  Life T. Cromwell, II. iii. We hardly shall finde such a one as he, To fit our turnes.

248 1659.  Hammond, On Ps. xviii. 5. Annot. 99. Ropes or cords are proper for that turne.

249 1788.  T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 354. Such persons as his turn and time might render desirable.

250 1881.  Mrs. Riddell, A. Spenceley, I. 285. You will answer my turn … as well as another.

251   b.  Phrases. (a) To serve one’s turn: to answer one’s purpose or requirement; to suffice for or satisfy a need; to be useful or helpful in an emergency; to suit, answer, serve, avail, ‘do.’ Also in passive. So: † (b) To serve a (this, that, etc.) turn (obs.). (c) To serve the turn; also † to do the turn (cf. 23). † (d) To serve turn; also with inf. = to serve to do something (obs.). † (e) To serve or do the turn of, to serve the purpose of, do instead of (obs.). (f) To serve one’s (one’s own, or a) turn (said of the person): to compass one’s own purpose; to consult one’s own need. (Cf. (a).) † Also with by, on, upon: to operate by or upon another in order to gain one’s end; to make use of for one’s own purposes. † (g) For one’s turn: (suitable) for one’s requirement or purpose (obs.).

252   (a).  1540.  Palsgr., Acolastus, II. iii. L iij b. Loke thou serue my tourne, what so euer I saye [orig. Fac uerbis meis subseruias].

253 1576.  Gascoigne, Steel Gl., Wks. 1910, II. 159. Let not the Mercer pul thee by the sleeve For sutes of silke, when cloth may serve thy turne.

254 1647.  N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. xvi. (1739), 32. The turns both of Pope and King were competently served.

255 1742.  Fielding, Jos. Andrews, I. xiv. Nothing would serve the fellow’s turn but tea.

256 a. 1859.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxiii. V. 72. Pipes he could not obtain; but a cow’s horn perforated served his turn.

257   (b).  1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 10. It serueth other turnes beside.

258 1586.  in Eng. Hist. Rev., Jan. (1914), 117. The lord chauncellor should have a serjant at armes … and hathe none,… his gentleman ussher sarvethe that torne.

259 a. 1628.  Preston, New Covt. (1634), 17. All the fish in the Sea should be little enough to serve such a turne.

260 1687.  Dryden, Hind & P., III. 65. I serv’d a turn, and then was cast away.

261   (c).  1551.  in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 57. Furnysshed of suche thinges … as yourself shall thyncke convenient to serue the turne.

262 1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 131. A cloake as long as thine will serue the turne?

263 1594.  J. Melvill, Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 318. The forces that war reposit on to do the turn.

264 1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., Advt. C iij b. Where the Fear of God is not, no Art can serve the turn.

265 1731.  Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Wine, A little Yeast,… or even a little new Wine may serve the Turn.

266 1768.  Ross, Helenore, II. 79. Nor will sick aff setts do the turn wi’ me.

267   (d).  a. 1638.  Mede, Wks. (1672), 68. To say the Ark was brought thither upon this occasion, will not serve turn.

268 1667.  Poole, Dial. betw. Protest. & Papist (1735), 91. This may serve Turn, to let you see, that I had Warrant to say, that [etc.].

269 1700.  Tyrrell, Hist. Eng., II. 847. When the Lyon’s Skin alone would not serve turn, he knew how to make it out with that of the Fox.

270   (e).  1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. 49 b. Some Pompe is to be made, or Kettell, Myll, or such like, as may serue the turne of a naturall streame.

271 a. 1653.  Binning, Serm. (1845), 605. Imputed righteousness comes in as a covering over the man’s nakedness, and doth the turn of perfect inherent holiness.

272 1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., ix. As if there werena men eneugh in the castle, or as if I couldna serve the turn of ony o’ them that are out o’ the gate.

273   (f).  1581.  Mulcaster, Positions, v. (1887), 32. Necessitie caught hold of it, to serue her owne tourne.

274 1583.  Golding, Calvin on Deut. iii. 13. Although Iethro was an heathen man: yet did God serue his owne turne by him [orig. Dieu s’est servi de luy] in this behalfe.

275 1604.  Shaks., Oth., I. i. 42. I follow him to serue my turne vpon him.

276 1664.  Butler, Hud., II. II. 123. If the Dev’l, to serve his turn, Can tell Truth.

277 1697.  Bentley, Phal. (1699), 114. Changing a plain Reading against the Authority of three MSS,… purely to serve a turn.

278 1759.  Bp. Hurd, Moral Dial., iv. 154. A parade of courage, put on to serve a turn, and keep her people in spirits.

279 1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xii. III. 208. Those slanderers who had accused him of affecting zeal for religious liberty merely in order to serve a turn.

280   (g).  1579.  W. Wilkinson, Confut. Familye of Loue, 38 b. To judge, if that … shalbe for their turne or no.

281 1625.  Ussher, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 132. For my turne he is altogether unfit.

282 1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. xii. 256. When … I could find a ship for my turn.

283 1773.  Life N. Frowde, 25. I am not a Man for their turn.

284   VI.  Various other abstract senses, of later development.

285   31.  Style, character, quality; esp. style of language, arrangement of words in a sentence. (Cf. TURN v. 5 b.)

286 1601.  B. Jonson, Poetaster, III. i. Doubtlesse this gallants tongue has a good turne when hee sleeps.

287 1692.  Dryden, St. Euremont’s Ess., Pref. 6. A Purity of Language, and a beautiful turn of Words, so little understood by modern Writers.

288 1697.  Bentley, Phal. (1699), 158. It has not the Turn and Composition of a Greek Name.

289 1718.  Free-thinker, No. 80, ¶ 3. Her Turn of Wit was gentle, polite, and insinuating.

290 1825.  Mrs. Sherwood, Yng. Forester, I. 5. Such a turn of behaviour as enabled him to conceal much roguery under a smooth appearance.

291 1869.  Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, i. 15. A careful comparison … between the Odyssey and Iliad, and of a number of particulars of turn and manner.

292   32.  (with a and pl.) A modification of phraseology for a particular effect, or as a grace or embellishment; a special point or detail of style or expression (in literary work, or transf. in art, etc.).

293 1693.  Dryden, Juvenal, Ded. (1697), 84. Had I time, I cou’d enlarge on the beautiful Turns of Words and Thoughts; which are as requisite in this, as in Heroique Poetry.

294 1705.  Addison, Italy, Ferrara, 121. There is a Turn in the Third Verse that we lose by not knowing the Circumstances.

295 1738.  Earl of Oxford, in Portland Papers (Hist. MSS. Comm.), VI. 178. The dress of this person … gives a turn and life to the other figures…. He is leading her up and has one foot upon the step, which gives a fine turn.

296 1868.  M. E. G. Duff, Pol. Surv., 4. His felicitous turns of expression.

297   33.  Form, make, mold, cast (of a material object). Cf. TURN v. 5 a. ? Obs.

298 1702.  Addison, Dial. Medals, ii. (1726), 84. The Roman poets, in their descriptions of a beautiful man, so often mentioning the Turn of his Neck and Arms.

299 1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 75, ¶ 8. The Turn of Faces he meets as soon as he passes Cheapside-Conduit.

300 1748.  Anson’s Voy., III. iii. 325. For … rollers … the body of the coco-nut tree was … useful;… its smoothness and circular turn … fitted it for the purpose.

301   34.  Natural inclination, disposition, bent; aptitude, capacity for something. Usually const. for (rarely to), or with defining adj. (Cf. TURN v. 5 c.)

302 1702.  Rowe, Tamerl., Ded. That happy Turn which your Lordship has to Business.

303 1736.  Butler, Anal., Introd. 6. A person of such a Turn of Mind.

304 1749.  Wesley, Acc. School at Kingswood, 3. They … learn, (those who have a Turn for it) to make Verses.

305 a. 1763.  W. King, Lit. & Polit. Anecd. (1819), 67. Ladies … who have a fine understanding and a turn to poetry.

306 1812.  Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 15. He [Roger Bacon] was a man of a truly philosophical turn, desirous of investigating nature.

307 1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xi. But Flibbertigibbet … hath that about him which may redeem his turn for mischievous frolic.

308 1844.  Alb. Smith, Adv. Mr. Ledbury, i. Mr. Ledbury was of an inquiring turn of mind.

309 1854.  Milman, Lat. Chr., IV. i. (1864), II. 190. The rude and simple Arab had … no turn to or comprehension of metaphysical subtlety.

310 1871.  Napheys, Prev. & Cure Dis., I. ii. 58. Persons of a dyspeptic turn.

311   b.  transf. That to which (the age or time) is disposed. (Cf. the fashion, the rage.) rare–1.

312 1709.  Swift, Advanc. Relig., Wks. 1755, II. I. 114. This is not to be accomplished [but] by introducing religion as much as possible to be the turn and fashion of the age.

313   † c.  ? Aptitude, talent. Obs. rare–1.

314 1721.  Cibber, Refusal, I. (1777), 19. Honest Witling is not to be put out of humour, I see. Gran. No, faith, nor out of countenance. Wit. Not I, faith…; and a man of turn may say any thing to me.

315   † d.  A particular element of the disposition; a characteristic; in quot. 1745, a characteristic act.

316 1729.  Law, Serious C., vi. (1732), 84. Some turn of mind, which every good Christian is called upon to renounce.

317 1745.  P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 313. A true French Turn, and not unlike old Lewis le Grand’s singing Te Deum for being defeated.

318 1764.  Sterne, in Traill, Life (1882), 85. This amiable turn of his character.

319   e.  Turn of speed, capacity for speed, ability to run or go fast.

320 1867.  in Sir M. G. Gerard, Leaves fr. Diaries, iii. 65. Showing an unexpected turn of speed.

321 1894.  Astley, 50 Y. my Life, I. 35. I discovered that I possessed a fair turn of speed.

322   35.  Direction, tendency, drift, trend. (Cf. TURN v. 26, 28.)

323 1704.  M. Henry, Commun. Comp., iv. Wks. 1853, I. 312/1. If this blessed turn be given to the bent of my soul.

324 1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. vi. 143. Providence gave a … happy turn to all this.

325 1736.  Butler, Anal., II. vii. 355. I know no pretence for saying the general turn of them [prophecies] is capable of any other [application].

326 1815.  Scott, Guy M., xxxii. ‘What turn did your conversation take?’ said Glossin.

327 1845.  J. Coulter, Adv. in Pacific, xiii. 180. Four days after, I discovered what gave my thoughts a new turn.

328   36.  A change from the original intention; a particular construction or interpretation put upon something: usually with give.

329 1710.  Palmer, Proverbs, 141. His best actions [are] thrown by and lessen’d by false turns.

330 1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. v. For heaven’s sake, sir,… do not give so cruel a turn to my silence.

331 1796.  Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., x. You are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means intend.

332 1850.  Mrs. Jameson, Leg. Monast. Ord. (1863), 85. The turn which they have given to the story differs altogether from what I conceive to be the real significance.

333   VII.  Various technical senses.

334   37.  A measure of various commodities, etc. (? the quantity dealt with at one ‘turn’ or stroke of work: cf. 24).

335   a.  A quantity or measure by which some fish are sold: of loose haddocks it is ten stone or 140 lbs.: see also quot. 1674. b. (See quot.) c. A load of wood or other commodity; also in Logging: see quot. 1905. d. Fur trade. A bundle of sixty skins. e. Mining. The number of cars filled by a miner during his turn or shift (cf. 29 a).

336   a.  1674.  Jeake, Arith. (1696), 66. Soles. In 1 Turn 4.

337 1882.  Daily News, 9 March, 2/8. Plaice, 30s. per turn.

338 1895.  Times, 7 Jan., 3/5. Haddocks,… 25s. to 30s. per turn.

339   b.  1805.  R. W. Dickson, Pract. Agric., II. 923. Turn of Water.—As much as can be distributed at a single operation by the management of the hatches within the reach of the labourers employed.

340   c.  1888.  J. C. Harris, in Harper’s Mag., April, 704/2. Sometimes he would bring a ‘turn’ of wood, sometimes a bag of meal or potatoes.

341 1893.  Daily News, 9 Jan., 5/7. Another has slipped while carrying a ‘turn’ of deal upon his shoulders.

342 1905.  Terms Forestry & Logging (U.S. Dep. Agric., Forestry, Bulletin No. 61). Turn,… two or more logs coupled together end to end for hauling.

343   d.  1891.  in Cent. Dict.

344 1897.  19th Cent., Nov., 737. A turn means sixty skins and the rate of pay is 11d per turn.

345   38.  The amount of some commodity turned out or produced: = TURN-OUT 9.

346 1875.  R. F. Martin, trans. Havrez’ Winding Mach., 9. The steel cages … had worked for four years, with a daily ‘turn’ of 637 tons (coal and dirt together).

347   39.  Comm. (in full, turn of the market): A change in price, or the difference between the buying and selling prices, of a stock or commodity; the profit made by this.

348 1882.  Bithell, Counting-Ho. Dict., Turn of the Market, The ‘turn of the market,’ or the ‘jobbers’ turn,’ is the difference between the two prices quoted in the official lists for stocks, shares, &c. … Consols are quoted 993/4 to 7/8, and it means that the jobber, when asked the price of Consols at that moment, was prepared to give 993/4 for them, or to sell them at 997/8. The difference between the two is the compensation to the jobber.

349 1885.  Pall Mall G., 23 May, 5/2. Brokers coming together without paying exorbitant ‘turns’ to the middleman—that is, the jobber.

350 1897.  Daily News, 28 June, 2/7. Tows, hemps, and flaxes are also the turn dearer.

351 1913.  Edith Wharton, Custom of Country, II. xi. In consequence of a lucky ‘turn’ in the Street.

352   VIII.  Collocations and Combinations.

353   40.  With adverbs, forming sb. phrases corresponding to the adverbial combinations of the verb (see TURN v. VIII): as turn in, an act of turning in. (Most commonly with hyphen or as one word; see TURN-, TURNABOUT, etc.)

354 1833.  T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., III. i. Now for … a glass of grog, and then for a turn in.

355   41.  attrib. and Comb., as turn-claimer (see quot.), † turn-keeping sb. and adj., turn movement. Turn toll: see TOLL sb.1 2 h. See also TURN-SERVING.

356 1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 195. A rocke about whose foote the tides turne-keeping play.

357 1708.  Constit. Watermen’s Co., xxxiii. 38. The Country-Watermen shall have equal Privilege and Turn keeping with the Towns-men.

358 1892.  Labour Commission Gloss., Turn-claimers, the persons occupied in a coal-mine who possess the privilege of claiming a ‘ben’…, that is a tub to fill in turn.

359 1908.  Installation News, II. 14. The switch has a turn movement worked from the outside.

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