n. [ F. tournesol, It. tornasole; tornare to turn (LL. tornare) + sole the sun, L. sol. See Turn, Solar, a., and cf. Heliotrope. ] [ Written also turnsol. ] 1. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Heliotropium; heliotrope; -- so named because its flowers are supposed to turn toward the sun. (b) The sunflower. (c) A kind of spurge (Euphorbia Helioscopia). (d) The euphorbiaceous plant Chrozophora tinctoria. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) (a) Litmus. [ Obs. ] (b) A purple dye obtained from the plant turnsole. See def. 1 (d). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who turns a spit; hence, a person engaged in some menial office. [ 1913 Webster ]

His lordship is his majesty's turnspit. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) 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 ]

n. 1. A revolving frame in a footpath, preventing the passage of horses or cattle, but admitting that of persons; a turnpike. See Turnpike, n., 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A similar arrangement for registering the number of persons passing through a gateway, doorway, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any species of limicoline birds of the genera Strepsilas and Arenaria, allied to the plovers, especially the common American and European species (Strepsilas interpres). They are so called from their habit of turning up small stones in search of mollusks and other aquatic animals. Called also brant bird, sand runner, sea quail, sea lark, sparkback, and skirlcrake. [ 1913 Webster ]

Black turnstone, the California turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala). The adult in summer is mostly black, except some white streaks on the chest and forehead, and two white loral spots. [ 1913 Webster ]