Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 7.pdf/239

 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.