turnspit

[ turn-spit ]

noun
  1. a spit that rotates or can be rotated.

  2. a mechanically or manually operated device for turning a spit on which meat is roasted.

  1. a person who turns a spit.

  2. a small dog having a long body and short legs, used formerly to work a treadmill that turned a spit.

Origin of turnspit

1
First recorded in1570–80; turn + spit2

Words Nearby turnspit

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use turnspit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for turnspit

turnspit

/ (ˈtɜːnˌspɪt) /


noun
  1. (formerly) a servant or small dog whose job was to turn the spit on which meat, poultry, etc, was roasting

  2. a spit that can be so turned

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012