Turnpike

[Mudman]

Can anyone tell me what this means? I believe it's an American term for a 'Highway' of some type but not sure exactly... And how did it get it's name?

[paddy_36]

A turnpike is a toll road; etymology here:

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=turnpike

[jno]

yes, some toll highways in the USA are called turnpikes, especially in the east. But the origin is British, I believe. British roads used to be awful (I'm talking 17th-18th centuries); sometimes councils would improve stretches of them but would then charge coaches to travel on them to recoup their investment. The actual pike functioned as a primitive toll plaza.

[Quizmonster]

As a matter of interest, a 'turnpiker' was someone who roamed along these English roads, as a sort of traveller/vagabond. That in turn was abbreviated to 'pikey' or 'piky', which has been a derogatory word meaning a 'gipsy' since the mid-1800s.

[lankeela]

Well QM, you live and learn! Have often used the word 'pikey' even had a dog called it, but didn't realise where it came from. Thanks for that.

[Mudman]

Thanx for the info guys. Sorry to put you all to so much trouble. I could have probably found it out for myself but was in AB when I was asked.

Call it pure laziness.. lol