Turnspit

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Turnspit \Turn"spit`\, n.
     1. One who turns a spit; hence, a person engaged in some
        menial office.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              His lordship is his majesty's turnspit. --Burke.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) A small breed of dogs having a long body and short
        crooked legs. These dogs were formerly much used for
        turning a spit on which meat was roasting.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  turnspit
       n : a roasting spit that can be turned