Tur"pi*tude (?), n. [L. turpitudo, from turpis foul, base.] Inherent
baseness or vileness of principle, words, or actions; shameful
wickedness; depravity. Shak.
{ Tur*quoise", Tur*quois" } (?; 277), n. [F. turquoise; cf. Pr. & Sp.
turquesa, It. turchese, turchina, LL. turchesius, turchina; — so called
because first brought from Turkey. See 1st Turkey.] (Min.) A hydrous
phosphate of alumina containing a little copper; calaite. It has a
blue, or bluish green, color, and usually occurs in reniform masses
with a botryoidal surface. [Formerly written also turcois, and
turkois.]
Turquoise is susceptible of a high polish, and when of a bright blue
color is much esteemed as a gem. The finest specimens come from Persia.
It is also found in New Mexico and Arizona, and is regarded as
identical with the chalchihuitl of the Mexicans.
Tur*quoise", a. Having a fine light blue color, like that of choice
mineral turquoise.
Tur"rel (?), n. [Cf. OF. touroul a little wooden instrument to fasten
doors or windows.] A certain tool used by coopers. Sherwood.
Tur"ret (?), n. [OE. touret, OF. tourette, dim. of tour a tower, L.
turris. See Tower.]
1. (Arch.) A little tower, frequently a merely ornamental structure at
one of the angles of a larger structure.
2. (Anc. Mil.) A movable building, of a square form, consisting of ten
or even twenty stories and sometimes one hundred and twenty cubits
high, usually moved on wheels, and employed in approaching a fortified
place, for carrying soldiers, engines, ladders, casting bridges, and
other necessaries.
3. (Mil.) A revolving tower constructed of thick iron plates, within
which cannon are mounted. Turrets are used on vessels of war and on
land.
4. (Railroads) The elevated central portion of the roof of a passenger
car. Its sides are pierced for light and ventilation.
Turret clock, a large clock adapted for an elevated position, as in the
tower of a church. — Turret head (Mach.), a vertical cylindrical
revolving tool holder for bringing different tools into action
successively in a machine, as in a lathe. — Turret lathe, a turning
lathe having a turret head. — Turret ship, an ironclad war vessel, with
low sides, on which heavy guns are mounted within one or more iron
turrets, which may be rotated, so that the guns may be made to bear in
any required direction.
Tur"ret*ed, a. 1. Furnished with a turret or turrets; specifically
(Zoöl.), having the whorls somewhat flattened on the upper side and
often ornamented by spines or tubercles; — said of certain spiral
shells.