c. 1400. Tale of Gamelyn, 244. Of all the tornes that he cowthe he schewed him but oon.
2. (Old Cant).—An execution: formerly, the criminal stood on a ladder which, at a given signal, was turned over (cf. New-drop): also to turn off (q.v. infra) and to turn over. Turning-tree = the gallows: see Nubbing Cheat.
1542. Hall, Henry VIII., f. 224. And at the last, she and her husband, as they deserved, were apprehended, arraigned, and hanged at the foresayd turnyng-tree.
1603. Shakspeare, Meas. for Meas., iv. 2. 62. For your kindness I owe you a good turn [Dyce: Here by turn Pompey, with a quibble, means a turn off the ladder].
1664. Butler, Hudibras, iii. ii. 698. Criminals condemned to suffer Are blinded first, and then turned over. . . . And make him glad to read his lesson, Or take a turn for't at the session.
1705. Flying Post, 11 Dec. Some minutes after he was turned off, a Reprieve came for him, and being immediately cut down he soon reviv'd, to the admiration of all spectators.
3. (colloquial).—A walk: spec. a short walk involving a speedy return to the starting-point: as a promenade on the deck of a vessel, round a garden, etc. [In quot. c. 1700 = an extended journey.]
1601. Shakspeare, Henry VIII., v. 1. 94. You and I must walk a turn together.
c. 1700. Darrel [?], Gentlemen Instructed, 14. Some years ago I took a turn beyond the seas, and made a considerable stay in those parts.
d. 1704. Brown, Works, i. 250. Last week Hippias and I were taking a turn in the Park.
1714. Addison, Spectator, 269. His master . . . would be glad to take a turn with me in Gray's-Inn walks.
1849. Bronté, Shirley, xxviii. Moore left his desk . . . [for] one or two turns through the room.
4. (colloquial).—A spell of work or a job in rotation with others: e.g. (theatrical) = a public appearance on the stage, preceding or following others.
1859. Lever, Davenport Dunn, v. Not able . . . to do a hand's turn for myself.
1897. Marshall, Pomes. 'Twas plain that ere her turn had ceased, Her talent had, on him at least, Created a most palpable impression.
5. (conventional).—In pl. = menses: see Domestic Afflictions.
6. (American).—A bonus over and above the legal rate of interest: charged by bankers on advances against stock when money is tight.
7. (colloquial).—A nervous shock, a qualm, nausea. As verb = to make sick, disgusted, silly: also to turn up or to turn the stomach. Whence turned up = queasy, ill, sick, as from a shock, sea-sickness, drinking, smoking, etc.
1605. Shakspeare, Lear, iv. 6. 23. I'll look no more Lest my brain turn.
1709. Dampier, Voyages, ii. i. 30. They have many sorts of dishes that wou'd turn the stomach of a stranger, which yet they themselves like very well.
1734. Pope, Satires, Epil., ii. 182. This filthy simile, this beastly line, Quite turns my stomach.
1846. Dickens, Cricket on Hearth, ii. What a hard-hearted monster you must be, John, not to have said so at once, and saved me such a turn.
1860. Eliot, Mill on Floss, i. 7. Mrs. Tulliver gave a little scream . . . and felt such a turn that she dropped the large gravy spoon into the dish.
