1847-8. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xxx. The bugles were sounding the turn-out.
3. (workmen's).—A strike. Also (4) a striker (singly and collectively).
1855. Gaskell, North and South, xviii. All his business plans had received a check, a sudden pull-up, from this approaching turn-out. Ibid., xx. Those were no true friends who helped the turn-outs.
5. (American).—A shunting-line, a side-track, a railway siding.
6. (common).—Production, output.
7. (colloquial).—A carriage, coach, or any vehicle with horses, harness, and other appointments; also (latterly) applied to motor-cars.
1835. Hook, Gilbert Gurney. I rather prided myself on my turn-out.
1884. Dowell, Taxes in England, iii. 50. The best turn-out of the Coaching or Four-in-hand clubs.
1903. Bazaar and Mart. [Sub-title s.v. Driving] Turn-outs.
8. (colloquial).—Dress, get-up (q.v.): cf. to turn out.
1883. Greenwood, Tag, Rag, & Co. 'What would [it] cost a girl on an average who hired a full turn-out on Monday and Saturday evenings?' 'If a regular customer . . . two shillings, ostrich and all.'
9. (theatrical).—An interval.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. The 'Delphi was better than it is. I've taken 3s. at the first turn-out!
Turnpike-man, subs. phr. (old).—A
parson: because the clergy
collect their tolls at our entrance
into and exit from the world'
(Grose).
Turnpike-sailor, subs. phr.
(tramps').—A beggar posing as a
distressed sailor.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Lab., i. 415. I became a turnpike sailor, as it is called, and went out as one of the Shallow Brigade.
Turn-tail, subs. phr. (common).—A
coward, renegade, pervert.
To turn tail = (1) to change
sides, (2) to turn one's back upon,
and (3) to run away, to shirk.
d. 1586. Sir P. Sidney (Latham). Would she turn tail . . . and fly quite out another way.
1612. Pasquil's Night Cap. How brittle, fickle, wavering, false, and fraile, Like to a wethercocke, still turning taile.
c. 1612. Corbet, Iter Boreale. His mare . . . for conscience sake, unspurr'd, unbeaten, Brought us six miles, and turn'd tayle at Nuneaton.
1621. Sylvester,Du Bartas. 'The Furies.' Our Sire . . . Turn'd tail to God, and to the Fiend his face.
1632. Jonson, Magnetic Lady, v. 4. Would thou had'st a dose of pills . . . to make thee turn tail t'other way.
1663. Butler, Hudibras, i. iii. Yet shame and honour might prevail To keep thee thus from turning tail.
1874. Siliad, 15. A general Hubbub all the force misled, And one, a Highland Chief, turned tail and fled.
Turn-tippet, subs. phr. (old).—A
time-server; turncoat (q.v.).
Hence to turn tippet = to
change right about.
d. 1556. Cranmer, Works, ii. 15 [Parker Soc.]. The priests for the most part were double-faced, turn-tippets, and flatterers.
1562. Heywood, Epigrams [Oliphant, New English, i. 561. Amongst the romance words are] turn his tippet.
d. 1575. Pilkington, Sermons, 211. All turn-tippets, that turn with the world and keep their livings still, should have no office in Christ's Church.
