His lordship is his majesty's turnspit. --Burke.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zo["o]l.) 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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
turnspit — [tʉrn′spit΄] n. 1. a person who turns a spit 2. Historical a small dog trained to turn a spit by means of a treadmill 3. a spit that can be turned … English World dictionary
Turnspit Dog — (†) Turnspit Dog, 1862 Nicht von der … Deutsch Wikipedia
Turnspit Dog — Infobox Dogbreed country = United Kingdom name = Turnspit Dog extinct = true The Turnspit Dog is a short legged, long bodied dog bred to run on a wheel, called a turnspit or dog wheel, to turn meat. The type is now extinct. It is mentioned in Of… … Wikipedia
turnspit — noun Date: 1570 1. a. one that turns a spit; specifically a small dog formerly used in a treadmill to turn a spit b. a roasting jack 2. a rotatable spit … New Collegiate Dictionary
turnspit — /terrn spit /, n. 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. 3. a person who turns a spit. 4. a small dog having a long body and short legs, used formerly… … Universalium
turnspit — noun a) A person employed in turning a spit for the purpose of roasting meat. b) A short legged, long bodied dog, now extinct, bred to run on a wheel to turn a spit … Wiktionary
turnspit — noun historical a servant (or small dog running on a treadmill) whose job was to turn a spit on which meat was roasting … English new terms dictionary
turnspit — turn•spit [[t]ˈtɜrnˌspɪt[/t]] n. 1) a spit that rotates or can be rotated 2) a person who turns a spit 3) dch a small dog formerly used to work a treadmill that turned a spit • Etymology: 1570–80 … From formal English to slang
turnspit — /ˈtɜnspɪt/ (say ternspit) noun 1. someone who turns a spit. 2. a dog of a breed with long body and short legs formerly used to work a treadmill which turned a spit. {turn + spit2} …
turnspit — n. hist. a person or small dog used to turn a spit … Useful english dictionary
