turbo
(ˈtɜːbəʊ)
[a. L. turbo (also turben), turbin-em a whirlwind or tornado, a spinning-top, a reel or spindle, a whirl, twirl, twist, revolution.]
† 1. A whirlwind, a tornado. Obs. rare.
| 1677 Plot Oxfordsh. 5 Those that have sailed to the Indies can inform them what force Hurricane's and Turbo's have. |
‖ 2. (mod.L., pl. turbines (-niːz).) A genus of gastropod molluscs, typical of the family Turbinidæ, having a regularly turbinate or whorled shell, with a rounded aperture and a calcareous operculum; also loosely, any member of the Turbinidæ; any turbinate or wreathed shell.
| 1661 Lovell Hist. Anim. & Min. Introd., The turbines are great, eared, tuberous. 1760–72 tr. Juan & Ulloa's Voy. (ed. 3) I. 168 This species of turbines, the juice of which is also used in dying cotton threads. 1779 Mrs. Delany in Life & Corr. Ser. ii. (1862) II. 475 She has found at her grotto some shells,..and found on Bunster a left-handed tooth'd turbo. 1837 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) XV. 347/2 A rigorous examination of the turbines of British writers. 1884 G. Allen in Pall Mall G. 26 Sept. 4/1 The objects inside the bower [of the Australian bower-bird] comprise a large and very handsome marine shell,..a pale blue turbo; a purplish pink cowrie. |
3. Mech. a. = turbine: cf. next. colloq.
| 1904 Electr. World & Engin. 30 July 1651 Oil coolers are erected in the basement below the turbos, through which the lubricating oil is passed, and cooled by means of a cold water circulation. |
b. = turbocharger; also, a motor vehicle equipped with this device. Also attrib.
| 1957 Motor 6 Mar. 168/1 General Motors have built four turbo vehicles. The 370 b.h.p. Firebird I..had single-stage centrifugal compressor and two-stage turbine layout. 1978 Country Life 17 Aug. 460/1 While turbo is a term associated with power, the Saab 99 Turbo has no shortcomings in terms of comfort. 1980 Daily Tel. 23 Jan. 14/4 Driving it in Portugal last week, I found it impressively smooth and quiet, with a quicker throttle response from low speeds than usual with a turbo. |