Also 7 tourn-. [f. TURNER1 + -Y.]
1. The art of the turner; the fashioning of objects or designs by means of a lathe.
1662. J. Bargrave, Pope Alex. VII. (1867), 126. A very artificial anatomy of a human eye, with all its films or tunicles, by way of turnery in ivory and horn.
1783. Justamond, trans. Raynal’s Hist. Indies, IV. 449. This wood is very fit for works of turnery.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 545. The wood [of the pear] is light, smooth, and compact, and much used in turnery.
1882. Hasluck, in Mechanical World, 4 March, 138/1. Numerous objects of turnery lying on the bench.
2. Collectively: Turner’s work; objects fashioned on the lathe; turnery ware. † Also with a and pl.
1644. Evelyn, Diary, 22 Oct. In another roome are such rare tourneries in ivory as are not to be described for their curiosity.
1761. H. Walpole, Lett. to G. Montagu, 20 Aug. [Some old chairs] the backs, arms, and legs loaded with turnery.
1881. Young, Ev. Man his own Mechanic, § 41. The Birch … is used … for making wheels, casks, tubs, and turnery.
3. A place where turning is done; a turner’s workshop.
1863. P. Barry, Dockyard Econ., 271. Boiler shop, erecting shop, turnery, foundry, forge, &c.
1878. F. S. Williams, Midl. Railw., 649. The light turnery or fitting shop.
1888. Pall Mall G., 6 June 2/1. In the shell turnery, shrapnel, Palliser, and other projectiles of divers weight and pattern, were shown us.
4. attrib. and Comb., as turnery-room, ware, warehouse, work.
1895. Jrnl. R. Instit. Brit. Archit., May, 490. The shaft may in itself be elaborately enriched with *turnery forms.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), III. 294. In the *turnery-room are all kinds of lathes and instruments for turning.
1670. Capt. J. Smith, Eng. Improv. Reviv’d, 195. This Timber is … very good for Hoops and Hoppoles, *Turnery ware and Joyners.
1717. Petiveriana, III. 218. They make Mortars, Pestles, and other Turnery Ware of it.
1788. Aikin, Eng. Delineated, 269. Tunbridge … is famous for its elegant turnery ware.
1815. Times, in N. & Q., 11th Ser. XI. 325/2. To be seen at Wyatt’s toy and *turnery warehouse.
a. 1734. North, Lives (1826), II. 336. Ivory wrought most exquisitely:… for *turnery work there is of it so small and crooked as is admirable.
1859. W. S. Coleman, Woodlands (1862), 81. The heart-wood of the Yew is … the finest of all native woods for purposes of cabinet-making and turnery-work.
