| turnspit | 1. One who turns a spit; hence, a person engaged in some menial office. "His lordship is his majesty's turnspit." (Burke) 2. <zoology> 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| turnstone | <ornithology> 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. 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| turnus | <zoology> A common, large, handsome, American swallowtail butterfly, now regarded as one of the forms of Papilio, or Jasoniades, glaucus. The wings are yellow, margined and barred with black, and with an orange-red spot near the posterior angle of the hind wings. Called also tiger swallowtail. Origin: NL, fr. L. Turnus, the king of the Rutuli, mentioned in the aeneid. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |