[f. TURN v. + STILE sb.] A gateway formed of four radiating arms of timber or iron at right angles to each other, revolving horizontally on a fixed vertical post, set up in a passage or entrance, originally to exclude any but foot-passengers; now often to prevent the passage of more than one person at a time at a place where fees, fares, or tickets are collected, or where it is desired to count those passing.
a. 1643. Cartwright, Lady Errant, I. v. Double forked Like a turn-stile, or some such engin.
1650. B., Discolliminium, 48. I can devise none fitter then Weather-cocks and a Turne-stile.
1716. Gay, Trivia, III. 108. Where twirling turnstiles intercept the way, The thwarting passenger shall force them round.
1818. Leigh, New Pict. Lond., 313. The kind of iron turn-stiles, which admit of only one person passing at a time.
1861. All Year Round, 29 June, 324. The railway station is full, the voluminous gowns are jamming up the ticket collectors’ turnstiles.
1890. Spectator, 31 May, 756. Sixty thousand passed the turnstiles of the Zoological Gardens.
fig. 1852. Jerdan, Autobiog., II. xxi. 296. Bills … were frequently only turnstiles opening into paths of difficulty.
b. attrib.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 336/2. A Turning Hatch, or Turnstyle gate.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., s.v., A turnstile counter for omnibuses and cars is described in English patent No. 2189, of 1854. Turnstile-register,… for registering the number of persons who pass through a turnstile.
1896. Daily News, 21 Aug., 3/5. Turnstile attendant at the Crystal Palace.
