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An American Dictionary of the English Language

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

  1. Tûrn, v. t.p. 1425To form in a lathe; to shape or fashion by applying a cutting-tool to the material of, while revolving; as, to turn the legs of stools, tables, and the like; to turn ivory or metal. 2. Hence, to give…
  2. Tûrn, v. i.p. 1426To move round; to have a circular motion; to revolve, entirely, repeatedly, or partially; to change position, so as to face differently; to whirl or wheel round; as, a wheel turns on its axis; a…
  3. Tûrn, n.p. 1426The act of turning; movement or motion about a center, or as if about a center; revolution; as, the turn of a wheel. 2. Change of direction; alteration of course; new direction or tendency; different…
  4. Tûrn'-brōach, n.p. 1426A turnspit. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
  5. Tûrn'-bĕnch, n.p. 1426A simple portable lathe, used by clockmakers and watchmakers. Simmonds.
  6. Tûrn'-câp, n.p. 1426A sort of chimney-cap, which turns round with the wind so as to present its opening to the leeward. Francis.
  7. Tûrn'-cōat, n.p. 1426One who forsakes his party or principles; a renegade; an apostate.
  8. Tûr'nep, n.p. 1426See TURNIP.
  9. Tûrn’er, n.p. 1426One who turns; especially, one whose occupation is to form articles with a lathe. 2. A variety of pigeon. 3. A person who practices athletic or gymnastic exercises; — so called among the Germans.
  10. Tăr'ner-ite, n.p. 1426(Min.) A rare mineral, occurring in small crystals of a yellowish-brown color, externally brilliant and translucent. It somewhat resembles sphene in its crystals, but differs from sphene in…
  11. Tûrn'er-y, n.p. 1426The art of fashioning solid bodies into cylindrical or other forms by means of a lathe. 2. Things or forms made by a turner, or in the lathe. “Chairs of wood, . . . the backs, arms, and legs loaded…
  12. Tăr'ney, n.p. 1426The same as TOURNEY. [Obs.] Milton.
  13. Tŭrn'ing, n.p. 1426A winding; a bending course; flexure; meander; a corner, as of a street or road. “Through paths and turnings.” Milton. It is preached at every turning. Coleridge. 2. Deviation from the way or proper…
  14. Tŭrn'ing-ēn'ġine, n.p. 1426An engine-lathe.
  15. Tŭrn'ing-lāthe, n.p. 1426A lathe used by turners to shape their work. Simmonds.
  16. Tûrn'ing-ness, n.p. 1426The quality of turning; tergiversation. [Obs.] Sidney.
  17. Tûrn'ing-point, n.p. 1426The point upon which a question turns, and which decides a case.
  18. Tŭr'nip, n.p. 1426(Bot.) A cruciferous plant of the genus Brassica (B. rapa), much cultivated on account of its solid, bulbous root, which is usually in the form of a flattened sphere, or a short, much compressed…
  19. Tŭrn'kēy, n.p. 1426A person who has charge of the keys of a prison, for opening and fastening the doors.
  20. Tûrn'-out, n.p. 1426The act of coming forth; a quitting of employment, especially for the purpose of gaining an increase of wages; a strike. 2. A short side track on a railroad, which may be occupied by one train while…
  21. Tŭrn'-ō'ver, n.p. 1427The act or result of turning over; as, a bad turn-over in a carriage. 2. A semicircular pie made by turning one half of a circular crust over the other, inclosing the fruit or other materials. 3. An…
  22. Tûrn'-ō'ver, a.p. 1427Admitting of being turned over; constructed for being turned over; as, a turn-over collar, &c.
  23. Türn'pike, n.p. 1427A frame consisting of two bars crossing each other at right angles, and turning on a post or pin, to hinder the passage of beasts, but admitting a person to pass between the arms; a turnstile. [Obs.]…
  24. Tŭrn'pīke, v. t.p. 1427To form, as a road, in the manner of a turnpike-road; to throw into a rounded form, as the path of a road. Knowles.
  25. Tûrn'pīke-man, n.p. 1427A man who collects tolls at a turnpike.
  26. Tŭrn'-pike-rōad, n.p. 1427A road on which turnpikes, or toll-gates, are established by law, and which are made and kept in repair by the toll collected from travelers or passengers who use the road.
  27. Tûrn'-plāte, n.p. 1427A turn-table.
  28. Tûrn'-screw, n.p. 1427A screw-driver.
  29. Tûrn'-sērv'ing, n.p. 1427The act or practice of serving one's turn, or promoting private interest.
  30. Tûrn'-sick, a.p. 1427Giddy. [Obs.] Bacon.
  31. Tŭrn'-sick, n.p. 1427A disease with which sheep are sometimes affected.
  32. Tûrn'sōle, n.p. 1427(Bot.) A plant of the genus Heliotropium; heliotrope;—so named because its flower is supposed to turn toward the sun. 2. A kind of dye obtained from certain lichens; litmus; also, a pigment in the…
  33. Tûrn'spit, n.p. 1427One who turns a spit; hence, a person engaged in some menial office. “His lordship is his majesty's turnspit.” Burke. 2. A variety of dog;—so called from being formerly employed to turn a spit.
  34. Tûrn'stile, n.p. 1427A revolving frame in a footpath, preventing the passage of horses or cattle, but admitting that of persons; a turnpike. See TURNPIKE, 1.
  35. Tūrn'-stōne, n.p. 1427(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Strepsilas, especially S. interpres, a little larger than an English blackbird;—so called from its practice of turning up small stones in search of mollusks and other…
  36. Tûrn'-tā'ble, n.p. 1427A large revolving platform, for turning railroad cars, locomotives, &c., in a different direction; — called also turn-plate.
  37. Tûr'pen-tīne, n.p. 1427An oleo-resinous substance, exuding naturally or on incision from several species of trees, as from the pine, larch, fir, pistachio, and others. Turpentine is chiefly derived from coniferous trees…
  38. Tûr'pen-tīne-tree, n.p. 1427(Bot.) A tree of the genus Pistacia (P. terebinthus), a native of the eastern continent, which yields a highly aromatic kind of turpentine. Tomlinson.
  39. Tûr'pen-tōle, n.p. 1427A light, purified spirit obtained from paraffine.
  40. Tûr'peth, n.p. 1427(Bot.) The root of Ipomœa turpethum, a plant of Ceylon, Malabar, and Australia, which was formerly used in medicine, and has a cathartic power;—sometimes called vegetable turpeth, to distinguish it…
  41. Tûr'peth-mĭn'er-al, n.p. 1427(Chem.) See TURPETH.
  42. Tûr'pin, n.p. 1427The land-tortoise. Simmonds.
  43. Tûr'pi-tūde, n.p. 1427Inherent baseness or vileness of principle, words, or actions; shameful wickedness. How wouldst thou have paid My better service, when my turpitude Thou thus dost crown with gold! Shak.
  44. Tur-quois', n.p. 1427(Min.) A mineral, brought from Persia, of a peculiar bluish-green color, occurring in reniform masses, with a botryoidal surface; calaite. It is susceptible of a high polish, and is used in jewelry…
  45. Tŭr'rel, n.p. 1427A certain tool used by coopers. Sherwood.
  46. Tŭr'ret, n.p. 1427A little tower; a small eminence or spire attached to a building and rising above it. “And lift her turrets nearer to the sky.” Pope. 2. (Anc. Mil.) A movable building, of a square form, consisting…
  47. Tŭr'ret-ed, p. a.p. 1427Formed like a tower; as, a turreted lamp. 2. Furnished with turrets.
  48. Tŭr'ri-bant, n.p. 1427A turban. [Obs.] “With hundred turrets like a turribant.” Spenser.
  49. Tur-rĭc'ū-lā'ted, a.p. 1427Furnished with, or formed like, a small tower or towers; turreted.
  50. Tŭr'ril-īte, n.p. 1427(Paleon.) A fossil belonging to an extinct genus of turreted chambered shells, allied to the ammonites. Lyell.
  51. Tŭr'ri-tĕl'lȧ, n.p. 1427(Zoöl.) A gasteropodous mollusk, having a turreted, elongate, many-whorled, spirally striated shell, a round mouth, and a horny operculum of many whirls. Baird.
  52. Tûr'tle, n.p. 1427(Ornith.) A gallinaceous bird, of the genus Turtur, or Columba;—called also turtle-dove and turtle-pigeon. It is a wild species, frequenting the thickest parts of the woods, and its note is plaintive…
  53. Tŭr'tle, n.p. 1427(Zoöl.) A tortoise;—often restricted to the large sea-tortoise. The flesh of the marine species is esteemed a great delicacy, and the eggs are highly valued for food. See TORTOISE. Hawk's-bill Turtle…
  54. Tŭr'tle-dōve, n.p. 1427(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Turtur, or Columba (T. auritus, or C. turtur), celebrated for the constancy of its affection. See TURTLE. ☞ The turtle-dove of the Scriptures is most probably a closely…
  55. Tûr'tle-fo͝ot'ed, a.p. 1427Slow-footed. “Turtle-footed Peace.” Ford.
  56. Tûr'tler, n.p. 1427One who catches turtles or tortoises.
  57. Tûr'tle-shĕll, n.p. 1427A shell, a beautiful species of Murex; also, tortoise-shell.
  58. Tûr'tling, n.p. 1427The act of catching turtles. Marryatt.
  59. Tûrves, n.p. 1427pl. of turf. [Obs.] See TURF.
  60. Tŭs'can, a.p. 1427(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Tuscany, in Italy; —specifically applied to one of the orders of architecture, the most ancient and simple. Tuscan capital, the capital of a column of the Tuscan order.…