Turret definitions and example sentences on Wordnik

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Definitions (24)

American Heritage Dictionary (6)

noun A small tower or tower-shaped projection on a building.
noun A low, heavily armored structure, usually rotating horizontally, containing mounted guns and their gunners or crew, as on a warship or tank.
noun A domelike gunner's enclosure projecting from the fuselage of a combat aircraft.

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Century Dictionary (12)

In naval construction, a turret is a completely inclosed revolving armored structure above the deck of a war-ship containing one or more guns, mounted on the turn-table carrying the turret-structure, which project through gun-ports cut through the armor on the front side of the turret. Proposals for the emplacement of the guns of war-ships on armored turn-tables were independently made by Captain Coles of the British navy and by Ericsson. Captain Coles at first called his shield or turret a ‘cupola’ (which see). It was not until 1864, however, that the first British vessel with a turret was tried. In the United States, the first turret was fitted in 1862 on the original ‘Monitor’ invented by Ericsson. (See monitor, n., 7). The turret of the original ‘Monitor,’ and of all subsequent vessels built during the Civil War, was carned on a heavy forged vertical central shaft by means of collars on the shaft. When not in use the turret rested on the deck. Before it could be rotated the shaft was wedged up at the bottom, or lifted up by hydraulic power, carrying the turret with it clear of the deck. It was then rotated on the shaft or spindle by steam-engines controlled from the turret, the pinions of which were geared to a large rack fastened under the floor of the turret. The large smooth-bore guns, when fired, recoiled entirely inside the turret, and an armored port-shutter could be closed while loading them. The British turrets were supported on a ring of iron rollers near the circumference so that they could be rotated without being lifted. This is the method by which all modern turrets are supported. The central spindle of the Ericsson turret was liable to be bent by the impact of projectiles on the turret, which caused the turret to jam. Modern turrets are turned by either hydraulic or electric motors. The mechanisms for elevating the guns, hoisting ammunition, and loading are very elaborate. The operations are performed largely by hydraulic or electric power. The deck-lugs carrying the guns are secured to girders forming part of the turn-table of the turret. See gun-mount. In the development of seagoing ships with high freeboard, the turrets necessarily were placed higher above the water. To protect the mechanism and the ammunition-hoists under them; it was necessary to provide a fixed cylinder of armor called a barbette (which see). All modern turrets are mounted above fixed barbettes (see cut). The top of the turret is armored, and above it project the armored sighting-hoods. There is usually a central sighting-hood for the trainer and one for the gun-pointer of each gun. The great length of modern guns causes them to project a considerable distance in front of the turret, and it is necessary to bring the body of the turret to the rear of the axis of rotation to provide room for loading the gun and to balance the rotating weight on the axis. The rear of the turret thus overhangs the barbette. The arrangement is called a balanced turret. The first turrets were circular cylinders of armor, but the modern turrets are of various forms; usually the turret armor is inclined in order to deflect projectiles. The first turrets each contained two guns, but in subsequent development, in some countries, a single gun has been mounted in each turret. The saving in weight of armor protection by placing two guns in one turret has, however, led to its universal adoption in the latest designs. In no country, except the tinted States, have more than two guns been mounted in one turret. See superposed turret.
An attachment to a lathe, drill, boring-machine, or slotting-machine designed to hold and present to the work a series of boring-, drilling-, or cutting-tools, the object being to save the time lost in changing from one tool to another by hand. In a lathe it consists of a round or six- or eight-sided horizontal tool-holder placed between the two heads. It has a circular motion in a horizontal 'plane, or may have a tilting circular motion that may be controlled by hand or may be automatic, and may also have a feed-motion to advance the tool to the work. The presentation of one tool to the work, the feed, the withdrawal of the tool on the completion of the cutting, and the partial revolution of the turret to bring another tool into action, may be automatic and continuous. In the boring-mill the turret is suspended over the table on a horizontal axis. In the slotting-machine it may be carried on the cutter-head, moving with n. It may carry four cutters, each of which may be brought into use in turn. In the drill the turret is suspended on a horizontal axis and may carry six drills, each one of which may be brought into action in turn by revolving the tuitet, the drills not at work remaining motionless. The turret gives its name to the machine in which it is employed, as a turret-lathe, a turret boring-machine, etc. Machines employing turrets are usually automatic and perform a complete series of operations on the work, as in a screw-machine or screw-cutting machine or the turret forming-machine. A turret is sometimes called a monitor from its shape.
Superposed turret a type of turret used only in the United States navy. It consists of an ordinary turret for two 12-inch guns on the roof of which is supported a smaller turret containing two 8-inch guns. The whole forms a single armored structure with four guns, whose axes are parallel. This type of turret is fitted on the ‘Kearsarge’ and ‘Kentucky,’ and on five battle-ships of the Virginia class.

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Within this turret is the lovely little circular chamber which was reserved for the King's own use. — The Story of Rouen
Above and concentric with the turret was another circular structure, of much less diameter and similarly armored. — The Gulf and Inland Waters The Navy in the Civil War. Volume 3.
In the top of this turret is placed the clock bell The wings of the western Tower formed a second Transept to the church, and were doubtless perfectly similar; the remaining wing has towers at the angles; that at the south-west angle is larger than the other, though they are of equal height, and rise considerably higher than the wing. — Ely Cathedral
It was the last time I ever saw either of them A buzzer was ringing in the turret, and I plunged back for it. — Wandl the Invader
I call it that: a routine of meals which Meka grimly served us in the turret, and a little sleep when she took the girls below and I lay on the turret floor. — Wandl the Invader

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turret

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