turret

English

The turret (marked in pink) of a baronial house in Argyll, Scotland

The turret of a South African Olifant Mk 1A main battle tank

Pronunciation

• enPR: tŭr'ət, IPA: /ˈtʌrət/, SAMPA: /"tVr@t/
• Rhymes: -ʌrət

Etymology

From Old English touret, Old French tourette, diminutive of tour a tower, Latin turris. See tower

Noun

Wikipedia turret (plural turrets)

1. (architecture) A little tower, frequently a merely ornamental structure at one of the corners of a building or castle.
2. (historical, military) 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. (military) An armoured, rotating gun installation, on a fort, ship, aircraft, or armoured fighting vehicle.
4. (rail transport) The elevated central portion of the roof of a passenger car. Its sides are pierced for light and ventilation.

Synonyms

• (military): cupola

Translations

A little tower

A movable building

A revolving tower constructed of thick iron plates

Finnish: tykkitorni (fi)

The elevated central portion of the roof of a passenger car

Derived terms

• turret clock
• turret head
• turret lathe
• turret ship

Anagrams

• rutter