15. (Mus.) An embellishment or grace (marked thus, &?;), commonly
consisting of the principal note, or that on which the turn is made,
with the note above, and the semitone below, the note above being
sounded first, the principal note next, and the semitone below last,
the three being performed quickly, as a triplet preceding the marked
note. The turn may be inverted so as to begin with the lower note, in
which case the sign is either placed on end thus &?;, or drawn thus
&?;.
By turns. (a) One after another; alternately; in succession. (b) At
intervals. "[They] feel by turns the bitter change." Milton. — In turn,
in due order of succession. — To a turn, exactly; perfectly; as, done
to a turn; — a phrase alluding to the practice of cooking on a
revolving spit. — To take turns, to alternate; to succeed one another
in due order. — Turn and turn about, by equal alternating periods of
service or duty; by turns. — Turn bench, a simple portable lathe, used
on a bench by clock makers and watchmakers. — Turn buckle. See
Turnbuckle, in Vocabulary. — Turn cap, a sort of chimney cap which
turns round with the wind so as to present its opening to the leeward.
G. Francis. — Turn of life (Med.), change of life. See under Change. —
Turn screw, a screw driver.
Turn"broach` (?), n. A turnspit. [Obs.] " One that was her turnbroach."
Beau. & Fl.
Turn"-buc`kle (?), n. (Mech.) (a) A loop or sleeve with a screw thread
at one end and a swivel at the other, — used for tightening a rod,
stay, etc. (b) A gravitating catch, as for fastening a shutter, the end
of a chain, or a hasp.
Turn"bull's blue` (?). (Chem.) The double cyanide of ferrous and ferric
iron, a dark blue amorphous substance having a coppery luster, used in
dyeing, calico printing, etc. Cf. Prussian blue, under Prussian.
Turn"coat` (?), n. One who forsakes his party or his principles; a
renegade; an apostate.
He is a turncoat, he was not true to his profession.
Bunyan.