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.]
I. Rotation, and connected senses. (Cf. TURN v. I, II.)
1. The action of turning about an axis or center, as a wheel; rotation, revolution. Now rare.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 79. On walkenes turn wid dai and niȝt Of foure and twenti time riȝt.
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.
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.
c. 1680. Hickeringill, Hist. Whiggism, II. Wks. 1716, I. 111. Fortune’s-wheel … is always … upon the Turn.
1879. J. Martineau, Hours Th. (1886), II. i. 6. You may expect a prize from the turn of a lottery.
2. An act of turning: a movement of rotation (total or partial); esp. a single revolution, as of a wheel.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., III. viii. 148. The sonne … gooth euery yere aboute the heuen one torne.
1596. Davies, Orchestra, lxxi. A gallant daunce,… With loftie turnes and capriols.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., I. vi. The Giddy turns of Fortune’s Wheel.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., I. 35. He darts his Zagaye … with a turn of hand that doubles the force of it.
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.
1849. Clough, Dipsychus, II. ii. 32. And hear the soft turns of the oar!
1872. Ruskin, Fors Clav. (1896), I. xix. 370. In a few turns of the hands of the … clock.
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.
1780. Mackenzie, Mirror, No. 93, ¶ 12. The beef was roasted to a turn.
1864. D. G. Mitchell, Sev. Stor., 11. The chops were done to a turn.
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).
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.
1888. Century Mag., May, 127/1. It was the turn of a hair that they hadn’t buried him alive.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 218. All that’s a turn too good for making slaughter-yard bacon, does for the Chinamen.
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).
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 62, heading. The turne, and remedy therfore.
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.
1718. Bp. Hutchinson, Witchcraft, ix. (1720), 162. Twirl like a Calf that hath the Turn.
1805. R. W. Dickson, Pract. Agric., II. 1168. The Turn or Giddy is a disorder with which these animals [sheep] are often seized.
4. A movement round something, a twist; spec. Naut. an act of passing a rope once round a mast or other object.
1743. Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 115. All Hands haul’d, took a Turn round the Main-Mast, and went aft.
1881. Whitehead, Hops, 35. The young bines only take short turns, and cannot lay hold of supports which are stout at the base.
1882. Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 256. The blocks … act like a sailor’s ‘turn and a half.’
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.
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.
1801. Busby, Dict. Mus. Ibid. (1818), Gram. Mus., 143. Full, or Double Turn. Partial Turn. Inverted Turn.
1868. Browning, Ring & Bk., I. 1210. Clavecinist debarred his instrument, He yet thrums—shirking neither turn nor trill,… on dumb table-edge.
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.).
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.
1678. Lond. Gaz., No. 1269/4. A dapple gray Mare,… a feather under the mane, two turns in the forehead.
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.
1827. D. Johnson, Ind. Field Sports, 83. Wound round with a few turns of fine silk.
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.
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.
a. 1483. Cath. Angl., 397/2. A Turne of a turnour, tornus.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Vn tour..., a turne, as boule faite au tour, a boule made at the turne.
1668. Phil. Trans., III. 795. An Artist, that polishes Optick-Glasses on a Turn.
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.
b. c. 1564. in Noake, Worc. Relics (1877), 10. A spynynge turne and a spolynge turne.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, VI. vi. 664. Almost like to a little Turne or Peare, brode beneath, and narrow aboue.
1675. Phil. Trans., X. 452. It shot off the Turne at the mouth of the Pit.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 342/1. An Engine called a Turne, or the Turne Engine … by which great Weights are lifted up.
1870. R. S. Hawker, Footpr. in Far Cornw. (1903), 145. The mother stood by her turn or wheel, and span.
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.
1808. Lady Jerningham, Lett. (1896), I. 321. Her victuals were put in a turn, like at a Convent.
II. Change of direction or course, and connected senses. (Cf. TURN v. III. IV, V.)
8. An act of turning or facing another way; a change of direction or posture.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 3273. Fortunys variaunce,… And sodeyn torn of hir false visage.
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.
1754. Richardson, Grandison (1810), IV. xxxii. 237. Her … half-saucy turns upon him.
1827. Scott, Surg. Dau., xiv. Shooting a glance at his … companion by a turn of the eye.
1847. Tennyson, Princess, IV. 375. She … made a sudden turn As if to speak.
b. ‘A step off the ladder at the gallows’ (J.); hanging. Cf. TURN v. 73 d. Now rare or Obs.
1631. Weever, Anc. Fun. Mon., 49. What man will venture a turne at the Gallows, for a little small siluer chalice?
c. Change of position (by a rotatory movement) of something inanimate, as a die when thrown.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., Introd. iii. 4. Stake their liberty upon the turn of the dice.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xi. 89. Few people chose to venture a hundred guineas upon the turn of a straw.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, V. i. ¶ 29. Florence and her dowry therefore were lost … by a turn of the dice.
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.
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.].
10. An act (or, rarely, the action) of turning aside from one’s coarse; deflection, deviation; a round-about course, a detour. Also fig. .
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4323 (Cott.). Qua folus lang, wit-outen turn, Oft his fote sal find a spurn.
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.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 327. And some behelde the hye tournes & tournynges of the sakers & gerfawcons.
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.
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.
1874. Whyte-Melville, Uncle John, xxiii. To follow him through the many turns and windings of his wearisome … chase.
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.
b. in phr. at every turn: usually fig. at every change of circumstance (cf. 18); hence, on every occasion, constantly, continually.
(Cf. quot. 1579 in TURNING vbl. sb. 4 b.)
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.
c. 1685. South, Serm., Will for Deed (1715), 377. One or both … being used by Men, almost at every Turn, to elude the Precept.
1735. Berkeley, Reasons, etc. § 2, Wks. 1871, III. 340. Should he at every turn say such uncouth things.
1876. Trevelyan, Life & Lett. Macaulay, II. ix. 131. Compelled to disgust his supporters at every turn.
1907. Blackw. Mag., April, 48. Palaces of rusticated stone meet us at every turn.
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.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. 1367. Thoruȝ many halle and many riche tour, By many tourn and many diuerse way.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, IX. vii. 26. The horsmen than prekis, and fast furth sprentis To weil beknawin pethis, and turnys [and] wentis.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, IV. xi. (Roxb.), 438/2. Annoynted … in … the breast, betweene the shoulders, in the Joynts, and turne of the Armes.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., Pulse (1778), I. 163. There are two turns; and be so good as to take the second.
1816. Byron, Ch. Har., III. lv. Song iv. The river nobly … flows,… And all its thousand turns disclose Some fresher beauty.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxiii. 286. They … walked around the turn of the cape.
b, c. Mining. (See quots.)
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.
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.
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.
1886. J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 69. Turn,… the arrangement of rails, sleepers and pulleys at a curve on a haulage road.
12. Arch. The curved flank or haunch of an arch, between the key-stone and the foot. ? Obs.
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.
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).
1669. R. Fleming, Fulfill. Script. (1801), I. 302. Antichrist should be at his height and his kingdom upon the turn.
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.
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.
1862. R. H. Patterson, Ess. Hist. & Art, 329. Fine Art is at a low ebb. But … the tide is on the turn.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
† 15. A journey, expedition, tour, course. Obs.
c. 1400. St. Alexius (Laud 622), 341. He took his tourne From Rome.
1570. Levins, Manip., 191/13. Turne,… cursus.
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.
1734. H. Walpole, Lett., Oct., in 10th Rep. Hist MSS. Comm., App. I. 254. His design to take a turn into England.
b. A sheriff’s tour, or court: see TOURN.
† c. Venery. Pairing of roe-deer. Obs.
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.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, III. xiv. (1660), 166. You shall sey Roe goeth to his Tourne.
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.
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.
1610. Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 162. A turne or two Ile walke To still my beating minde.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 160, ¶ 2. I took several Turns about my Chamber.
1795. Lond. Gaz., No. 5336/1. He … has taken a Turn on Horseback on the Isle.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., Introd. This circumstance of explanation and remark … occupied us during two or three turns upon the long terrace.
1867. Trollope, Chron. Barset, xlvii. I will take a turn round the garden.
b. Knitting. See quot.
1893. Eliz. Rosevear, Text-bk. Needlework, etc., 406. A Turn is used for two rows in the same stitches backwards and forwards.
III. Change in general. (See also sense 36.) Cf. TURN v. VI.
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.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. xxxviii. § 1. An admirable facilitie which musique hath to expresse … the turnes and varieties of all passions.
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.
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.
1901. L. Malet, Sir R. Calmady, III. ii. The turn of the leaf was very brilliant.
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.)
1607. Shaks., Cor., IV. iv. 12. Oh World, thy slippery turnes! Friends now fast sworn … shall within this houre … breake out To bitterest Enmity.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 217. The State of Christendome might by this late Accident haue a turne.
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.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xviii. II. 120. The engagement … was maintained with various and singular turns of fortune.
1842. Tennyson, Two Voices, 55. Some turn this sickness yet might take.
1859. G. Meredith, R. Feverel, xxv. In the turn of the year.
1892. W. Ramage, Last Words, 65. Two turns are possible in a crisis: the issue may be favourable or fatal.
b. Turn of life: a name for the time, or symptoms, of cessation of menstruation: = change of life (CHANGE sb. 3 d).
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.’
1860. Mayne, Expos. Lex., Turn of Life, popular term for the constitutional disturbance frequently attendant on the cessation of the catamenia.
19. A momentary shock caused by sudden alarm, fright, or the like. colloq. (Cf. 25 b.)
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!
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.
1886. Besant, Children of Gibeon, II. xix. It was only a dream…. But it gave me a terrible turn.
IV. Senses denoting actions of various kinds.
† 20. A movement, device, or trick, by which a wrestler attempts to throw his antagonist: = F. tour.
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.
c. 1325. Metr. Hom., 83. Bot sinful man gers him [the devil] oft schurne, And castis him wit his awen turne.
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.
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.
21. A subtle device of any kind; a trick, wile, artifice, stratagem. ? Obs.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 78. Vre strencðe … aȝein þes deofles turnes & his fondunges.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 796. Y warne þe of a torn … Y leuede ȝond on a buchyment sarasyns wonder fale.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, lxiv. 221. I thynke to playe hym a tourne.
1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, V. iii. Come, no equivocations, no Roman turns upon us.
1720. Waterland, Eight Serm., Pref. 30. The unlearned Reader … may be easily imposed upon by little Turns, and Fallacies.
1735. H. Walpole, Lett., 9 Sept., in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 259. A variety of artifices and turns.
† 22. An act, deed, proceeding; a deed of valor, feat, exploit. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 192. In þe creatores cort com neuer more, Ne neuer see hym with syȝt for such sour tournez.
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.
1590. Reg. Privy Council Scot., IV. 560. He had done greitar turnis nor to ding oute all thair harnis.
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).
13[?]. Cursor M., 4330 (Cott.). Sco [Potiphar’s wife] waited him wit a werr turn.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Pard. T., 487. Hadde I nat doon a freendes torn to thee?
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.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 98. Wysshe hym a shrewde turne, or saye, I wolde the deuyll had hym.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 34. One good tourne askth an other.
1647. H. More, Cupid’s Conflict, xlv. He … Requiteth evil turns with hearty love.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 15. One good turn deserves another.
1724. De Foe, Mem. Cavalier (1840), 242. Ready … to do us any ill turn.
1886. G. R. Sims, Ring o’ Bells, etc., vii. 198. I did the lass a bad turn when I took her away.
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).
c. 1375. Sc. Leg. Saints, xxx. (Theodera), 121. Of sorcery scho cuth do, And as scho mycht did turne and chare.
1572. Satir. Poems Reform., xxxii. 35. Thay … brocht thair butter and egges To Edinburgh Croce, and did na vther turne.
1609. Skene, Reg. Maj., II. xli. 36 b. The over-lord sall doe all the turnis and affairs perteining to the heire.
1791. J. Learmont, Poems, 331. My turns are lying to do.
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.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 335. Þov hast y dremed of venesoun; þov mostest drynke a torn.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2276. I walde … now wrastyll a turne.
a. 1500[?]. Chester Pl., vii. 246. A turne to take have I tight with my maistores.
1653. Clarke Papers (Camden), III. 9. Yesterday wee had another turne in the House.
1829. Scott, Anne of G., xxv. We have seen … so many turns betwixt York and Lancaster.
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.
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.
b. An attack of illness, faintness, or the like; also, a fit of passion or excitement. (Cf. 19.)
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.
1859. Tennyson, Merl. & Vivien, 519. Not so much from wickedness, As some wild turn of anger, or a mood Of overstrain’d affection.
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].
c. pl. A name for monthly courses or catamenia.
1857. Dunglison, Med. Lex., Turns, menses.
† 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.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 853/1. Beside the losse of our time, there is a worse turne followeth it, and more deadly.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. x. 18. The shepheard … broke his bag-pipe quight, And made great mone for that unhappy turne.
1708. Mrs. Centlivre, Busie Body, V. i. Pox on’t, this is an unlucky Turn. What shall I say?
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. xiii. 268. To bring this long turn of our affairs to a conclusion.
V. Occasion, etc.
† 27. The occasion or time at which something happens. (Cf. 18, 26.) Obs.
13[?]. Cursor M., 19445 (Cott.). He sagh him croised þat ilk turn Þat he for staning suld not skurn.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 154. Richard at þat turne gaf him a faire Juelle.
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.)
c. 1393. Chaucer, Scogan, 42. Tak euery man his torn as for his tyme.
1586. B. Young, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., IV. 188. It came to L. Iohns turne to drinke.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. ii. 105. Then ’twas my turne to fly, and now ’tis thine.
1642. Denham, Sophy, Prol. 10. His turne will come, to laugh at you agen.
1697. Collier, Ess., II. Envy, 113. Every one has a fair Turn to be as Great as he pleases.
1719. Young, Paraphr. Job 5, Wks. 1757, I. 204. At length misfortunes take their turn to reign, And ills on ills succeed.
1778. C. Jones, Hoyle’s Games Impr., 79. If … the last Player plays out of his Turn.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. II. 553. It was Northumberland’s turn to perform this duty.
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.
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.
(a). 1538. Elyot, Vicissatim, by tymes, by tournes. Vicissim, by tourne, nowe one, nowe an nother.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. iv. 76. [They] by change and turnes … keepe watch.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 598. The damn’d … feel by turns the bitter change Of fierce extreams.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 508, ¶ 3. He is by turns outrageous, peevish, froward and jovial.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1864), II. 13. He aped each folly of the throng, Was all by turns and nothing long.
c. 1850. Arab. Nights (Rtldg.), 326. They slept only by turns, in order to guard against wild beasts.
(b). 1586. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, II. (1625), 59. The next and last in turne, are those letters familiar.
1688. Prior, Ode, v. Why does each consenting Sign With prudent Harmony combine In Turns to move?
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.
1883. Fenn, Middy & Ensign, xxxv. They would take it in turns to sleep.
1908. [Miss Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 303. The daughters in turn riding on pillion-seat.
(c). 1573–80. Baret, Alv., T 430. By course, or euerie man in his turne, alternis.
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.
1781. Cowper, Charity, 74. To see the oppressor in his turn oppressed.
1861. M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 47. A committee … in which every Hanse town was in its turn represented, according to a fixed cycle.
1864. Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., viii. (1875), 143. Germany became in her turn the instructress of the neighbouring tribes.
(d). 1650. Earl Monm., trans. Senault’s Man bec. Guilty, 357. Being weary of obeying, they fain would command their turn about.
1709. T. Robinson, Vind. Mosaick Syst., 94. The Cock … Sitting upon the Eggs his turn about.
1802. H. Martin, Helen of Glenross, II. 14. To complete the turn-about good offices, Frances can marry your cast-off Sedley.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xv. Fit to sit low at the board, carve turn about with the chaplain.
1833. T. Hook, Widow & Marquess, vii. Turn-about is all fair play.
1834. [S. Smith], Lett. J. Downing, xxvii. (1835), 176. When one gets drunk, tother keeps sober, and so they take turn and turn about.
1840. E. E. Napier, Scenes & Sports For. Lands, II. v. 174. We took it turn and turn to send out [etc.].
1848. Mrs. Gaskell, M. Barton, ix. (1882), 23/2. We took it turn and turn about to sit up and rock th’ babby.
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.)
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 230. I proposed to visit each company … once in each company’s turn, if wind and weather should permit.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, Turn, the hours during which coals, &c., are being raised from the mine.
1897. Worc. County Express, 3 April. In the turn’s work, six hours, Potts would have been able to make 11/2 dozen shades.
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.
1890. Even. News & Post, 9 June, 1/7. The wire-walking of Mme. Zuila and her little girl … furnishes a clever and interesting turn.
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.
1907. Times, 30 Jan., 6/6. Under the barring clause the gentleman, who is not a big turn, did not appear.
30. Requirement, need, exigency; purpose, use, convenience. arch. (Chiefly in special phrases; see below.)
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 33/1. To serue to burne for many a turne.
1602. Life T. Cromwell, II. iii. We hardly shall finde such a one as he, To fit our turnes.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. xviii. 5. Annot. 99. Ropes or cords are proper for that turne.
1788. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 354. Such persons as his turn and time might render desirable.
1881. Mrs. Riddell, A. Spenceley, I. 285. You will answer my turn … as well as another.
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.).
(a). 1540. Palsgr., Acolastus, II. iii. L iij b. Loke thou serue my tourne, what so euer I saye [orig. Fac uerbis meis subseruias].
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.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. xvi. (1739), 32. The turns both of Pope and King were competently served.
1742. Fielding, Jos. Andrews, I. xiv. Nothing would serve the fellow’s turn but tea.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxiii. V. 72. Pipes he could not obtain; but a cow’s horn perforated served his turn.
(b). 1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 10. It serueth other turnes beside.
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.
a. 1628. Preston, New Covt. (1634), 17. All the fish in the Sea should be little enough to serve such a turne.
1687. Dryden, Hind & P., III. 65. I serv’d a turn, and then was cast away.
(c). 1551. in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 57. Furnysshed of suche thinges … as yourself shall thyncke convenient to serue the turne.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 131. A cloake as long as thine will serue the turne?
1594. J. Melvill, Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 318. The forces that war reposit on to do the turn.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., Advt. C iij b. Where the Fear of God is not, no Art can serve the turn.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Wine, A little Yeast,… or even a little new Wine may serve the Turn.
1768. Ross, Helenore, II. 79. Nor will sick aff setts do the turn wi’ me.
(d). a. 1638. Mede, Wks. (1672), 68. To say the Ark was brought thither upon this occasion, will not serve turn.
1667. Poole, Dial. betw. Protest. & Papist (1735), 91. This may serve Turn, to let you see, that I had Warrant to say, that [etc.].
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.
(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.
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.
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.
(f). 1581. Mulcaster, Positions, v. (1887), 32. Necessitie caught hold of it, to serue her owne tourne.
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.
1604. Shaks., Oth., I. i. 42. I follow him to serue my turne vpon him.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. II. 123. If the Dev’l, to serve his turn, Can tell Truth.
1697. Bentley, Phal. (1699), 114. Changing a plain Reading against the Authority of three MSS,… purely to serve a turn.
1759. Bp. Hurd, Moral Dial., iv. 154. A parade of courage, put on to serve a turn, and keep her people in spirits.
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.
(g). 1579. W. Wilkinson, Confut. Familye of Loue, 38 b. To judge, if that … shalbe for their turne or no.
1625. Ussher, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 132. For my turne he is altogether unfit.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. xii. 256. When … I could find a ship for my turn.
1773. Life N. Frowde, 25. I am not a Man for their turn.
VI. Various other abstract senses, of later development.
31. Style, character, quality; esp. style of language, arrangement of words in a sentence. (Cf. TURN v. 5 b.)
1601. B. Jonson, Poetaster, III. i. Doubtlesse this gallants tongue has a good turne when hee sleeps.
1692. Dryden, St. Euremont’s Ess., Pref. 6. A Purity of Language, and a beautiful turn of Words, so little understood by modern Writers.
1697. Bentley, Phal. (1699), 158. It has not the Turn and Composition of a Greek Name.
1718. Free-thinker, No. 80, ¶ 3. Her Turn of Wit was gentle, polite, and insinuating.
1825. Mrs. Sherwood, Yng. Forester, I. 5. Such a turn of behaviour as enabled him to conceal much roguery under a smooth appearance.
1869. Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, i. 15. A careful comparison … between the Odyssey and Iliad, and of a number of particulars of turn and manner.
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.).
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.
1705. Addison, Italy, Ferrara, 121. There is a Turn in the Third Verse that we lose by not knowing the Circumstances.
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.
1868. M. E. G. Duff, Pol. Surv., 4. His felicitous turns of expression.
33. Form, make, mold, cast (of a material object). Cf. TURN v. 5 a. ? Obs.
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.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 75, ¶ 8. The Turn of Faces he meets as soon as he passes Cheapside-Conduit.
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.
34. Natural inclination, disposition, bent; aptitude, capacity for something. Usually const. for (rarely to), or with defining adj. (Cf. TURN v. 5 c.)
1702. Rowe, Tamerl., Ded. That happy Turn which your Lordship has to Business.
1736. Butler, Anal., Introd. 6. A person of such a Turn of Mind.
1749. Wesley, Acc. School at Kingswood, 3. They … learn, (those who have a Turn for it) to make Verses.
a. 1763. W. King, Lit. & Polit. Anecd. (1819), 67. Ladies … who have a fine understanding and a turn to poetry.
1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 15. He [Roger Bacon] was a man of a truly philosophical turn, desirous of investigating nature.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xi. But Flibbertigibbet … hath that about him which may redeem his turn for mischievous frolic.
1844. Alb. Smith, Adv. Mr. Ledbury, i. Mr. Ledbury was of an inquiring turn of mind.
1854. Milman, Lat. Chr., IV. i. (1864), II. 190. The rude and simple Arab had … no turn to or comprehension of metaphysical subtlety.
1871. Napheys, Prev. & Cure Dis., I. ii. 58. Persons of a dyspeptic turn.
b. transf. That to which (the age or time) is disposed. (Cf. the fashion, the rage.) rare–1.
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.
† c. ? Aptitude, talent. Obs. rare–1.
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.
† d. A particular element of the disposition; a characteristic; in quot. 1745, a characteristic act.
1729. Law, Serious C., vi. (1732), 84. Some turn of mind, which every good Christian is called upon to renounce.
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.
1764. Sterne, in Traill, Life (1882), 85. This amiable turn of his character.
e. Turn of speed, capacity for speed, ability to run or go fast.
1867. in Sir M. G. Gerard, Leaves fr. Diaries, iii. 65. Showing an unexpected turn of speed.
1894. Astley, 50 Y. my Life, I. 35. I discovered that I possessed a fair turn of speed.
35. Direction, tendency, drift, trend. (Cf. TURN v. 26, 28.)
1704. M. Henry, Commun. Comp., iv. Wks. 1853, I. 312/1. If this blessed turn be given to the bent of my soul.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. vi. 143. Providence gave a … happy turn to all this.
1736. Butler, Anal., II. vii. 355. I know no pretence for saying the general turn of them [prophecies] is capable of any other [application].
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxxii. ‘What turn did your conversation take?’ said Glossin.
1845. J. Coulter, Adv. in Pacific, xiii. 180. Four days after, I discovered what gave my thoughts a new turn.
36. A change from the original intention; a particular construction or interpretation put upon something: usually with give.
1710. Palmer, Proverbs, 141. His best actions [are] thrown by and lessen’d by false turns.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. v. For heaven’s sake, sir,… do not give so cruel a turn to my silence.
1796. Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., x. You are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means intend.
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.
VII. Various technical senses.
37. A measure of various commodities, etc. (? the quantity dealt with at one ‘turn’ or stroke of work: cf. 24).
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).
a. 1674. Jeake, Arith. (1696), 66. Soles. In 1 Turn 4.
1882. Daily News, 9 March, 2/8. Plaice, 30s. per turn.
1895. Times, 7 Jan., 3/5. Haddocks,… 25s. to 30s. per turn.
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.
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.
1893. Daily News, 9 Jan., 5/7. Another has slipped while carrying a ‘turn’ of deal upon his shoulders.
1905. Terms Forestry & Logging (U.S. Dep. Agric., Forestry, Bulletin No. 61). Turn,… two or more logs coupled together end to end for hauling.
d. 1891. in Cent. Dict.
1897. 19th Cent., Nov., 737. A turn means sixty skins and the rate of pay is 11d per turn.
38. The amount of some commodity turned out or produced: = TURN-OUT 9.
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).
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.
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.
1885. Pall Mall G., 23 May, 5/2. Brokers coming together without paying exorbitant ‘turns’ to the middleman—that is, the jobber.
1897. Daily News, 28 June, 2/7. Tows, hemps, and flaxes are also the turn dearer.
1913. Edith Wharton, Custom of Country, II. xi. In consequence of a lucky ‘turn’ in the Street.
VIII. Collocations and Combinations.
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.)
1833. T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., III. i. Now for … a glass of grog, and then for a turn in.
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.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 195. A rocke about whose foote the tides turne-keeping play.
1708. Constit. Watermen’s Co., xxxiii. 38. The Country-Watermen shall have equal Privilege and Turn keeping with the Towns-men.
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.
1908. Installation News, II. 14. The switch has a turn movement worked from the outside.
