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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Turn-out

Turn-out \Turn"-out`\, n.; pl. Turn-outs.

  1. The act of coming forth; a leaving of houses, shops, etc.; esp., a quitting of employment for the purpose of forcing increase of wages; a strike; -- opposed to lockout.

  2. A short side track on a railroad, which may be occupied by one train while another is passing on a main track; a shunt; a siding; a switch.

  3. That which is prominently brought forward or exhibited; hence, an equipage; as, a man with a showy carriage and horses is said to have a fine turn-out.

  4. The aggregate number of persons who have come out, as from their houses, for a special purpose.

  5. Net quantity of produce yielded.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
turn-out

"audience, assemblage of persons who have come to see a show, spectacle, etc.," 1816, from the verbal phrase; see turn (v.) + out (adv.).

Wiktionary
turn-out

n. 1 attendance; crowd 2 (context dated English) A quitting of employment for the purpose of forcing increase of wages; a strike. 3 A short side track on a railroad, which may be occupied by one train while another is passing on a main track; a shunt; a siding; a switch. 4 That which is prominently brought forward or exhibited; hence, an equipage. 5 Net quantity of produce yielded.

Usage examples of "turn-out".

There were few handsome turn-outs on the main drive, and perhaps the popular character of the place was indicated by the use of omnibuses instead of carriages.

When they were turned away from motels or regular campsites they slept in roadside turn-outs and dirty ravines.

Privately he felt the turn-out to be satisfactory, but to ignore the nine cases of contumacy would instantly make a mockery of his authority.

Again the voice from the tower reverberated around the hillsides, announcing the parade of carriages, and a dozen turn-outs came around the bend: plain and fancy carriages drawn by high steppers, the drivers and passengers in period costumes.