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Fine Dictionary

turnspit

WordNet
  1. (n) turnspit
    a roasting spit that can be turned
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
  1. Turnspit
    (Zoöl) A small breed of dogs having a long body and short crooked legs. These dogs were formerly much used for turning a spit on which meat was roasting.
  2. Turnspit
    One who turns a spit; hence, a person engaged in some menial office. "His lordship is his majesty's turnspit ."
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
  1. (n) turnspit
    A person who turns a spit.
  2. (n) turnspit
    A kind of dog of small size, long-bodied and short-legged, formerly used to work a kind of treadmill-wheel by means of which a spit was turned.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
  1. Turnspit
    one who turns a spit: a person engaged in some menial occupation: a long-bodied, short-legged dog employed to drive a wheel by which roasting-spits were turned—closely allied to the Dachshund (q.v.)
Etymology

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary A.S. tyrnan; Ger. turnen; Fr. tourner; all from L. tornāre, to turn in a lathe—tornus, a turner's wheel—Gr. tornos.

Usage in literature

The boy was taken into the King's kitchen and made a turnspit. "A Child's History of England" by Charles Dickens

Mangy turnspit dogs were lying about, and grey rats were gnawing at refuse in the sinks. "The Princess and the Curdie" by George MacDonald

Youre nothing but a turnspit. "Misalliance" by George Bernard Shaw

As for me, I work like a turnspit that deserves baptism. "Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau" by Honore de Balzac

So, when you addressed me, I was as foolish as an ass before a turnspit. "Notre-Dame de Paris" by Victor Hugo

The very turnspits barked in laughing concert. "Windsor Castle" by William Harrison Ainsworth

Richard replied that he would not for such a prayer dismiss a turnspit of his kitchen. "History of the English People, Volume II (of 8)" by John Richard Green

Courtiers, footmen, lackeys, turnspits even, were forever sending him off on ridiculous errands. "The Firelight Fairy Book" by Henry Beston

Turnspits are descended from ill-made hounds, which they resemble in body, but have very short, and even crooked legs. "Anecdotes of the Habits and Instinct of Animals" by R. Lee

He is more suited, sir knight, to dine with your turnspits. "King Arthur's Knights" by Henry Gilbert