• (n.) One who turns a spit; hence, a person engaged in some menial office. • (n.) 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. Found on http://thinkexist.com/dictionary/meaning/turnspit/
Turnspit was the name given to a dog kept for walking in a treadmill so as to keep a roasting-spit turning. The term was also applied to a servant employed to turn a roasting-spit. Found on http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/browse/AT.HTM
a spit that rotates or can be rotated. · a mechanically or manually operated device for turning a spit on which meat is roasted. · a person who turns a spit. · a small dog having a long body and short legs, used formerly to work a treadmill that turned a spit. Found on https://www.infoplease.com/dictionary/turnspit