turnkey

- 3 dictionary results

turn⋅key

[turn-kee]

noun, plural -keys., adjective

–noun

1.	a person who has charge of the keys of a prison; jailer.

–adjective

2.	Also, turn-key. of, pertaining to, or resulting from an arrangement under which a private contractor designs and constructs a project, building, etc., for sale when completely ready for occupancy or operation: turn-key housing, turnkey contract.

3.	fully equipped; ready to go into operation: a turnkey business.

Origin:
1645–55; turn + key ¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

turn·key (tûrn'kē')

n. pl. turn·keys
The keeper of the keys in a prison; a jailer.
adj.

Supplied, installed, or purchased in a condition ready for immediate use, occupation, or operation: a turnkey computer system; a turnkey housing project.
Of or relating to something supplied, installed, or purchased in this manner: a turnkey agreement.

Word Origin & History

turnkey (adj.)

1654, "jailer," from turn + key. In ref. to a job that only has to be done once, it is recorded from 1934. The notion is of locking up afterward.

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